LOCK HAVEN — Clinton County Community Connections is offering an open house for those interested in a unique opportunity to enhance your life and another’s.

The organization, commonly referred to as the 4Cs, is looking for families or individuals who would like to open their home for the Life Sharing Program.

According to Megan Prough, director of quality assurance and intake coordinator at the 4Cs, the Life Sharing program assists individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism in finding a family or individual who will mutually choose to share life experiences and a home together.

Prough said the program is similar to fostering, however the goal is to allow the individual to feel independent while also building a family support system, too.

“This service is to match what it means to live in a home and become part of someone’s family. Some individuals still have biological family contact but for any reason they can’t support them so this becomes an option as an extension of their family,” Prough explained.

Families or individuals who take part in the program receive a monthly stipend based on the program participant’s needs along with monthly room and board compensation.

“They also receive support from our agency with monthly home checks and 24/7 on-call service,” Prough said.

Prough said the program is state regulated.

According to information shared by Prough, the 4Cs since 2010 have brought more than 50 people with disabilities and Life Sharing families together. Currently, they are supporting 35 Life Sharing families in Clinton and Lycoming counties.

Prough said to become a Life Sharing family, some requirements must be met including ensuring a home meets regulatory standards.

“We set up a meeting at their home and do a walkthrough to see if the home will meet standards,” she said. “If the house does, then we start the screening process.”

The screening process consists of the following:

— Provider must be over the age of 18 to apply.

— A home check and interview of the family.

— Monitor general upkeep and maintenance of the home.

— Background clearances for all Life sharing family members of the home over 17 years old in the home.

— Initial physical exams for all Life sharing family members in the home.

— Initial TB screenings for all Life sharing family members in the home.

Once the screening process is complete, Prough said the Life Sharing family would move onto orientation training.

Currently, Prough said she has two CCCC clients looking for homes, though she added she can get referrals anytime from other counties in the state.

“The more families that I have interest in the program, the more I can reach out to the state waitlist,” she said.

Those interested in learning more about the Life Sharing program can do so at the CCCC’s open houses set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, March 30 and Tuesday, March 31 at its office, 10 N. Washington St., Lock Haven.

If you can’t make it to the open houses, you may also contact Prough at 570-748-9006 to learn more.