The Adult Foster Care (AFC) program is a Mass Health funded program that consist of a member in need of care, a qualified live-in caregiver who receives a tax-free stipend, and a qualified setting. The program offers nursing oversight and case-management support to keep members in their homes or in communities of their choosing. AFC providers take a multidisciplinary team approach that includes the AFC member, the caregiver, the registered nurse, the case manager, the primary care provider, and anyone of the member's choosing. This team will come together to carefully develop a plan of care around the member's medical, physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs. Our goal is to promote prevention, to encourage healthy living, and to reduce caregiver stress and burnout while promoting and building strong communities.
About the Massachusetts Council for Adult Foster Care - MCAFC
The Massachusetts Council for Adult Foster Care (MCAFC) has supported the Adult Foster Care provider network for over 25 years. As the largest association of AFC providers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, we are governed by a board of dedicated volunteer professionals committed to strengthening, advancing, and advocating for the AFC program. MCAFC works collaboratively with senior and disability organizations throughout the state.
MCAFC recognizes Adult Foster Care as a crucial component of the state’s disability support system—one that enables older adults and individuals with disabling conditions to remain safely in their homes and communities rather than moving to more restrictive and costly care settings.
The Adult Foster Care program was developed as an innovative approach to help individuals remain in community-based settings for as long as possible by ensuring their care needs are met by a trained, qualified live-in caregiver.
Members and caregivers receive ongoing support from a multidisciplinary care team composed of healthcare professionals. AFC nurses and care managers visit members in their homes on a regular basis to provide clinical oversight, coordinate medical needs, and offer ongoing support to caregivers.
Through Leadership, Knowledge, and Advocacy, MCAFC collaborates with more than 100 Adult Foster Care provider agencies
across Massachusetts, supporting over 18,000 members, to thrive in their homes and communities with the help of their caregivers.
The Massachusetts Council for Adult Foster Care strives to:
- Assist provider agencies in upholding program integrity by interpreting and implementing regulations, developing best practices for service delivery, and sponsoring ongoing trainings.
- Advocate in partnership with MassHealth, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and the State Legislature to secure appropriate funding for AFC services.
- Provide up-to-date information on changes affecting the Adult Foster Care program.
- Promote networking and collaboration among AFC provider agencies across the state.
- Educate the public about Adult Foster Care as a care option and highlight its benefits for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
MCAFC and AFC Provider agencies ultimately enhance the quality of life for vulnerable individuals across Massachusetts who rely on this vital support.
