State Supported Living Centers

State Supported Living Centers (SSLC) provide 24-hour residential services, comprehensive behavioral treatment services and health care services, including physician services, nursing services and dental services. Other services include skills training; occupational, physical and speech therapies; vocational programs; and services to maintain connections between residents and their families and natural support systems.

The living centers provide campus-based direct services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at 13 locations — Abilene, Austin, Brenham, Corpus Christi, Denton, El Paso, Lubbock, Lufkin, Mexia, Richmond, Rio Grande, San Angelo and San Antonio.

They serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile or who have behavioral problems with an IQ of 69 or below.

Texas SSLC Locations

How to Get Admission into an SSLC?

First, contact your local intellectual and developmental disability authorities (LIDDAs). The LIDDA will explain both community and residential services. The LIDDA also will decide whether someone meets criteria for admission or commitment to a state supported living center.

If the person is determined eligible, and the person or his or her legally authorized representative chooses to pursue admission, the LIDDA will submit an application packet to the state supported living center that serves the person’s county of residence.

You can find your LIDDA’s contact information at https://apps.hhs.texas.gov/contact/search.cfm.

Types of Admission

There are three types of admission into an SSLC: respite, emergency, and regular. Below is a description for each type of admission.

Respite

• Temporary care to provide help or relief to a person with a developmental disability or his or her family.
• Can be provided for up to 30 days with one 30-day extension.
• Admission is considered voluntary and requires the consent of the proposed resident, if he or she is capable of giving legally adequate consent; the guardian of an adult who can’t give consent; or the parent of a minor.

Emergency

• Temporary care for someone who has an urgent need for services.
• This can last for up to 12 months.
• Admission is considered voluntary and requires the consent of the proposed resident, if he or she is capable of giving legally adequate consent; the guardian of an adult who can’t give consent; or the parent of a minor.

Regular

• Admission is the long-term placement of someone who requires habilitative services, care, training and treatment.
• Requires the consent of the proposed resident, if he or she is capable of giving legally adequate consent, or the guardian of an adult who can’t give consent. State supported living centers will not permit the regular voluntary admission of a minor.

Transitioning from SSLC into the Community