Thorough Care Development Services is a home and support provider in Virginia Beach, Virginia. We serve adult males living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Whether you are a family member picturing what comes next, or a professional looking for the right placement, this page walks you through starting services with us.
Who Is Eligible
The men we serve share a few things in common. He is an adult male with a diagnosed intellectual or developmental disability — the population we are built around and know best. For our homes and day-to-day supports, he has a DD Waiver, Medicaid, or both.
In Virginia, the DD Waivers are the Community Living (CL) Waiver, the Family and Individual Supports (FIS) Waiver, and the Building Independence (BI) Waiver. Our residential homes are most often a fit for someone on the Community Living Waiver, which is built for people who need support living outside the family home.
For Mental Health Skill-building Services (MHSS), the path is different: MHSS is a Virginia Medicaid service for adults (generally 21 and older, though 18 to 20 can qualify) who have a serious mental illness diagnosis and a qualifying history. It is training toward independence — not therapy.
If you are not sure which fits, that is normal. Most families do not walk in knowing their waiver type. Call us and we will help you sort it out.
Step One: Reach Out
The first step is a short message. Email info@thoroughcare.org or request a consultation during Residential support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.. You do not need paperwork in hand or every answer ready. This first conversation is just so we can understand who the person is and what he needs.
If you are a professional making a referral, this same contact starts the process — tell us population fit, funding source, and timeline, and we will tell you quickly whether we are a match.
Step Two: Gathering Information
Next we learn the details. For a family, that means talking about the person you care for — his personality, routines, what a good day looks like, what worries you. For a referral source, it means sharing records that help us plan: current Individual Service Plan, waiver or Medicaid details, and any assessments already completed. This step is a conversation, not an interrogation.
Step Three: Assessment and Planning
Eligibility for the DD Waiver level of care is measured with a tool called VIDES — the Virginia Individual Developmental Disabilities Eligibility Survey — which helps confirm a person needs the kind of support a waiver pays for. Once someone is enrolled, the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) measures how much support a person needs day to day, so we can tailor staffing and care to the individual.
From there we build an individualized, person-centered plan. The person we serve gives real input. His choices matter here. This is his chapter.
The Role of the CSB and Your Support Coordinator
Two terms come up again and again: the Community Services Board (CSB) and the Support Coordinator. Your local CSB is the front door to the DD Waiver — where a person gets screened, assessed, and placed on the waiting list. Slots are prioritized by urgency, so being on that list matters.
The CSB assigns a Support Coordinator — Virginia's term for a case manager — who guides the family and connects the person to providers like us. If you already have one, tell us who they are and we will coordinate directly. If you do not yet have a waiver, we will point you back to your local CSB and stay in touch while you do.
Step Four: Moving In and Starting Services
When the plan is set and funding is confirmed, we schedule the start. For residential services, that means a move-in day we plan to feel steady, not sudden. For MHSS or transportation, it means the first session or first scheduled ride. This is the moment the new chapter begins — a new room, new routines, new faces glad he is there.
For Families
You do not have to have this figured out. Bring your questions, even the ones that feel too small to ask. We will meet you where you are and walk each step beside you. Placing an adult son or brother somewhere new is one of the hardest and most loving decisions a family makes — and we treat it that way.
See our dedicated guide for Families & Guardians for a warmer, plain-language walk through what to expect.
For Referral Sources
We know you screen fast. We serve adult males with IDD, we are DBHDS licensed and enrolled with Virginia Medicaid, and we accept DD Waiver and Medicaid funding. Send us a referral and expect a prompt, straight answer on fit and availability.
See our dedicated guide for Case Managers for licensing details, referral steps, and the intake packet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to start services?
It depends on funding and availability, but the first conversation can happen the same week you call. Move-in timing depends on whether a waiver and slot are already in place. We will give you an honest timeline once we understand your situation.
What if we do not have a DD Waiver yet?
That is common, and it does not shut the door. Contact your local Community Services Board to get screened and placed on the waiting list. We can explain how it works and stay in touch while you go through it.
What is the difference between VIDES and SIS?
VIDES checks whether a person is eligible for the level of care a waiver pays for. SIS comes later, after enrollment, and measures how much day-to-day support a person needs. One opens the door; the other tailors what happens inside.
Can a professional and a family both start a referral?
Yes. Families reach out directly, and so do Support Coordinators, case managers, and discharge planners. If both are involved, we coordinate with everyone.
Do you only serve adult males?
Yes. Our homes and supports are designed specifically for adult males with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Focusing on this group is how we do it well.
What does it cost the family?
For most people we serve, the DD Waiver or Medicaid covers the cost of care, so there is usually no separate bill to the family for covered services. We will walk you through exactly what your funding covers before anything begins.