We know navigating care can come with questions. That’s why we’ve gathered clear, helpful answers to the most common inquiries about our services—so you feel informed, confident, and supported every step of the way.
Yes, we are approved by Pennsylvania ODP to provide Home and Community Rehabilitation, Respite and Skilled Nursing Services to eligible PA Medicaid recipients.
We currently service Bucks County, Montgomery County and Philadelphia County. We will be expanding to other counties within the Southeast Region of Pennsylvania as demand changes occur.
We have been servicing individuals with ID/DD or Autism for over ten years, under our parent company, Childway Pediatric Services Inc. Avana launched in 2023 to begin servicing adults.
We have been servicing individuals with ID/DD or Autism for over ten years, under our parent company, Childway Pediatric Services Inc. Avana launched in 2023 to begin servicing adults.
The Individual Support Plan (ISP) determines the approved days and hours services are needed. We are able to accommodate the ISP for any hour of the day or day of the week. Our Administration team is available daily during normal business hours, 9:00 am-5:00pm, Monday through Friday). After normal business hours we have an on-call service available from 5:00 pm to 9:00 am Monday through Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday.
Ideally, services may begin once a staff member is assigned to an individual. This process can range from 2 weeks to 4 weeks after the initial service request/referral. The timeliness of the process is determined by the approval of services in the individual’s ISP, consent and service forms returned and signed, the individual’s preferences and staffing availability. The timelines for the below process may be altered depending on those factors.
Step 1: Referral Received
Your referral is received and reviewed by our intake team.
Step 2: Initial Intake Call
(Within 1 Business Day of Step 1)
We reach out by phone to gather basic information and explain next steps.
Step 3: Meet & Greet
(Virtual or In-Person — Within 3 Business Days of Step 2)
We’ll schedule a meeting to get to know the individual, their needs, preferences, and goals.
Step 4: Transition/Coordination Meeting
(As Soon as Possible if Transferring from Another Agency)
If applicable, we coordinate with your current provider to ensure a smooth and supported transition.
Step 5: Welcome Meeting
(Scheduled After Staff is Identified & Service Start Date is Finalized)
We host a final meeting to introduce your care team and officially welcome you into services.
The individuals’ ISP and discussions with the individual/family assists in determining and executing cultural preferences and needs. Our staff complete ongoing training to ensure cultural competence, sensitivity, and self-awareness.
Our staff receive a minimum of 24 hours of training each year revolving around various topics as it relates to community integration, behavioral de-escalation, person-centered care, abuse and incident management. Additional training is provided to staff depending on the needs of their assigned individual. All our training is approved and reviewed by the Office of Developmental Programs.
Progress is tracked with the completion of every shift. Our staff create a comprehensive summary of services provided during their assigned shift. That information is reviewed by the Program Specialist/Manager and is compared to the benchmarks outlined in the Individuals’ ISP and Plan of Care. An analysis of progress is completed quarterly and the ISP team updated accordingly.
1. Independent Living Skills
2. Community Participation
3. Social and Communication Skills
4. Self-Advocacy and Decision-Making
5. Vocational Readiness (when applicable)
6. Health and Safety Awareness
We have continuous open ended person centered conversations with our individuals/families to be sure personal goals are up to date. The Plan of Care is developed with the individual/family prior to the service date and provides a summary of care and goal needs for the individual to be supported with. The Plan of care is a live document, which is always reviewed and signed by the individual at minimum annually.
1. Recreational Activities
2. Educational and Skill-Building Opportunities
3. Volunteering and Civic Engagement
4. Shopping and Errand-Based Activities
5. Faith and Spiritual Involvement (if desired)
6. Social and Peer Interaction Opportunities
7. Transportation Training
Yes, we absolutely support individuals with behavioral challenges and non-verbal communication needs. In fact, providing consistent, individualized care to those with diverse communication styles and behavioral support needs is a fundamental part of our mission.
We recognize that every individual expresses themselves differently—some through behavior, others through gestures, assistive technology, sign language, or idiosyncratic communication methods. That’s why collaboration is essential. We work closely with families, behavior specialists, therapists, and support teams to understand each person’s unique needs, triggers, preferences, and routines.
We have adopted ODP’s Everyday Lives: Values in Action, which emphasizes:
We offer:
15-minute incremented respite within the home and out of the home
emergency respite and
Daily (16+ hrs) respite within the home or out of the home.
To ensure consistency and safety in short-term respite care, we follow a person-centered approach guided by the individual’s support plan, routines, and preferences. Our trained staff review all medical, behavioral, and communication needs prior to care and maintain open communication with families to ensure a smooth transition. We replicate familiar routines, provide structured activities, and uphold strict safety protocols, including medication management, emergency procedures, and incident reporting. Documentation is maintained throughout and shared with caregivers afterward to ensure transparency. Above all, we prioritize dignity, comfort, and individualized support to make respite a positive and safe experience for the individual.
Yes, respite services are designed to be flexible and can often be arranged on short notice to support families during times of unexpected need. However, to ensure the individual’s health and safety, any required medical equipment, supplies, or adaptive devices must be provided and available at the time of service. This ensures that care is delivered safely, consistently, and in alignment with the individual’s specific needs and support plan.
We hold a pool of qualified candidates that are matched based on the individual’s preferences. Each individual is provided a “DSP/Nurse Match” form during onboarding. The assigned DSP/Nurse is matched based on that form.
We hold a pool of qualified PRN DSPs/Nurses, that may be used as a back-up staff in case of staff call-outs or emergencies. Our PRN staff is provided the Plan of Care and specific highlighted information to ensure the health and safety needs of the individual. If the individual/family decides care is not needed for that day, another day can be coordinated in the future as long as a time/day authorized in the ISP.
All Staff, upon assignment, is provided with the ISP and Plan of Care to review. The Program Specialist trains the staff on the Plan of Care prior to service initiation.
The Program Specialist/Manager supervises DSP/Nurses. On a monthly basis, staff are provided supervision with Program Specialist/Manager to review any area of needs. The Program Specialist/Manager conducts Individual Satisfaction Surveys with the individual/family within the first 7 days of services, first 30 days of services, first 6 months of services, and annually thereafter. Suggestions for improvement from the Individual Satisfaction Surveys are communicated with the assigned staff respectfully and constructively. We believe in creating sustainable relationships between our individuals and staff.
Support Coordinators are provided with Progress Notes, Medical Appointment Logs, Community Outing Logs, and Visit Logs quarterly from the Program Specialist/Manager.
Families, with permission/release of information documentation on file, can request updates and Progress Notes at any time.
The daily Progress Notes completed by DSP/Nurses encompass a review of activities completed during the day, behavior and any changes in health/routine. After review of these notes, the Program Specialist/Manager may contact the individual/family to notify them of an update to the Plan of Care. The DSP/Nurse, Individual/Family, Support Coordinator is provided the updated Plan of Care.
All staff are mandated to call 911 in the event of a medical emergency and/or behavioral crisis whilst ensuring the most safe environment for the individual until resolved.
Yes. We are constantly finding qualified candidates to cover various regions within Southeast Pennsylvania. All referrals are welcome and we will tailor hiring to your needs.
We do not have a waitlist.
We participate in the Transition Coordination meeting, facilitated by the Support Coordinator. From this meeting we gather action items and time frames to ensure a smooth transition.
From childhood through adulthood, ChildWay and Avana offer loving, specialized care to help every individual thrive.
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