MAKE A LIFE CHANGING IMPACT
Become a Sponsor
Home
Sponsors provide safe, family-centered environments where children and adolescents with ID/DD can grow, learn, and thrive.
THE HEART OF OUR PROGRAM
Why Become a Sponsor?
Sponsor Homes are the foundation of everything we do at ClearPath. Without dedicated individuals and families willing to open their homes, there would be no Sponsored Residential program — and fewer opportunities for children and adolescents with ID/DD to experience the stability, belonging, and warmth of family life.
Becoming a sponsor means more than providing a room. It means becoming a mentor, an advocate, and a consistent, caring presence in a young person's life. It means sharing meals, celebrating milestones, offering encouragement through challenges, and helping someone discover their own strengths and capabilities.
The children and adolescents we serve need more than professional services — they need a home. They need the everyday rhythms of family life: dinner around the table, help with homework, weekend activities, and someone who shows up for them day after day. That is what sponsors provide, and that is what changes lives.
And you will not do it alone. ClearPath wraps every Sponsor Home in a full support system — training, clinical consultation, 24/7 crisis support, and a team that is invested in your success and the well-being of the individual in your care.
WHAT IT TAKES
Sponsor Home Requirements
We set high standards because the young people we serve deserve the very best. Here is what we look for in prospective Sponsor Homes.
Safe and Welcoming Home
A private family home that meets safety and space standards, with a dedicated bedroom for the individual. The home must pass a comprehensive safety inspection and fire marshal review.
Background Checks
All adult household members must pass comprehensive background screenings, including criminal history, child protective services, and driving record checks.
Age and Residency
Sponsors must be at least 21 years of age, legally able to work in the United States, and residents of Virginia. Both individuals and couples are welcome to apply.
Training Commitment
Completion of the ClearPath pre-service training program and ongoing professional development. Training covers all essential topics to ensure quality care and regulatory compliance.
Genuine Commitment to Care
A sincere desire to provide a nurturing, stable, and family-centered environment. Sponsors must demonstrate patience, empathy, flexibility, and a commitment to person-centered values.
Team Collaboration
Willingness to work collaboratively with the ClearPath team, the individual's family or guardian, service coordinators, educators, therapists, and other professionals involved in the individual's care.
