Answers for families thinking about sponsoring, and for case managers and other professionals. Tap a question to expand it.
As a Sponsor Family, you open your home to support a child with a developmental disability in a safe, family-style environment. You provide daily care, supervision, and encouragement, while Earthora provides oversight, training, and ongoing support so you can focus on what matters most: the child.
Anyone at least 21 years old with a stable, supportive home and a genuine desire to help a child may be eligible. You’ll need to pass a background check and complete our required training, but no prior clinical background is necessary.
You are never alone. We provide full pre-service training, weekly check-ins and home visits, help with documentation, and 24/7 access to our team for questions or emergencies.
You’ll need to complete an application, pass a background check and Central Registry review, complete our pre-service training, provide references, and have your home evaluated to confirm it meets basic safety and space standards.
The timeline depends on how quickly your application, background check, and home evaluation are completed. Most families finish the full process within four to six weeks.
Yes. Many Sponsor Families work outside the home. The needs of the child always come first, so you’ll need to be available for appointments and emergencies, and we’ll work with you to build a plan that fits your household.
Sponsor Families receive competitive monthly compensation based on the individual needs and support level of the child placed in their home.
We understand every caregiver needs rest. Reach out to your Supervisory Staff contact to plan ahead for any time away, so we can make sure the child’s care and routine stay consistent.
No prior experience is required. We provide full pre-service training at no cost, covering developmental disabilities, trauma-informed care, positive behavior support, crisis de-escalation, medication administration, mandatory reporting, documentation, and emergency procedures.
In some circumstances this may be possible. Please contact us directly to discuss your specific situation.
We serve children and adolescents ages 0–17 with developmental disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and cerebral palsy.
Complete the form on our Make a Referral page, or call us directly at (571) 477-6137 for an urgent referral. Our team will follow up within one business day.
Yes. We are licensed by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to provide DD Sponsored Residential Home Services.
We are based in Culpeper, VA, and serve Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock counties, as well as Warrenton, Front Royal, Stafford, Dumfries, Woodbridge, Manassas, Gainesville, and Haymarket.
We accept private pay and Medicaid, through Virginia’s Developmental Disability (DD) Waiver. Contact us if you have questions about funding for a specific child.
Timing depends on finding the right match between the child’s needs and an available, certified Sponsor Family. We move as quickly as we responsibly can, and will communicate realistic timelines with you throughout the process.
Yes. We work collaboratively with referring case managers and DSS staff throughout the placement, including treatment team meetings and ongoing updates on the child’s progress.
