About

Fees for services vary tremendously based on the individual’s needs for support.  Individual budgets are developed for each person based on their needs.  Contact the office for more specifics.

Although we do accept private funds, most of the people we support are funded publicly.  In New Hampshire, services for individuals who have developmental disabilities and acquired brain disorders are funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Developmental Services using Medicaid the Home and Community Based Services Waivers.  Services in NH are decentralized.  The state is divided into 10 regions.  Each region has a nonprofit agency designated to be the Area Agency for that region.  The Area Agencies determine eligibility for services, provide case managment and coordination of services, and enter into contracts with vendor agencies, such as Farmsteads of New England, which provide the direct care services.   Click on the link below for Area Agency information.

https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcbcs/bbh/documents/list-map.pdf

(Generally speaking, other states will not send their funds across state lines for adult services.)

Frequently we receive calls from individual’s families.  If the family anticipates paying privately, we will arrange for a tour, send an application for services, and develop a budget.  In most cases, the family anticipates using public funds.  In this case, we refer them back to their Area Agency.  Assuming the individual has been found eligible for services and has been approved for funding of those services, the Area Agency will then send us an RFP (Request for Proposal).  We will send a narrative proposal along with a proposed budget.  Once the budget is approved a starting date will be determined.

We accept individuals who have a documented developmental disability and who have a wide range of abilities.  We do not accept people who have certain forensic issues and/or those who are expected to “run away” since we are not a locked facility.  Those who are expected to “wander” are accepted but would likely be staffed on a 1:1 basis.  Autism is a special interest so we strive to be able to meet the needs of individuals who have a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder.  We do accept people who have challenging behaviors but not those who are expected to be severely assaultive.

We currently have 22 individuals living on the farmstead (each in his/her own one bedroom apartment).  Additionally, 8 staff members and their family members live on the farmstead.  Additionally, we provide community participation (day) and transition services to approximately 18 other people.  We also have many other people who come to FNE for respite services.

Absolutely not!  Farm life, by its nature, is somewhat isolating since farmers tend to live and work on the same property.  However, farms are a vital part of a rural community, and farmers interact with the greater community on a regular basis; the interaction moves in both directions.  The individuals we support (who we refer to as farmers) grow vegetables, fruit, and animals for the community.  The community members come to the farm to buy produce, to enjoy the petting farm, to take yoga, weaving, and ceramics classes.   The FNE farmers leave the farm to participate in the greater community on a daily basis.  They do their grocery shopping in town, they go to the grain store, the hardware store, and the transfer station.  They attend church services, visit the library, go to medical and dental appointments, go to hair dressers and barber shops, to fairs, movies, malls, lakes, hiking, etc.  The Hillsborough farmstead, Rosewald Farm, is an integral part of the Hillsborough community today just as it was 50, 100, and 200 years ago.

Because we make a concerted effort to integrate the farmstead and the individuals who live on it with the community of Hillsborough, we believe that we do provide inclusive, integrated services.   We also recognize that there are people who disagree.  Thus, we are moving “against the flow.”  However, we believe that “one size does not fit all.”  We believe that all choices should be available to people with disabilities just as all choices are open to those who are not disabled.  Just as senior citizens have the right to live in 55 and older communities and just as golf lovers have the right to live in a golfing community, so we believe that people with developmental disabilities who enjoy living in a supportive farming environment have the right to make that choice.