For many families, the path to supervised living for an adult with a developmental disability runs through Virginia’s Medicaid waivers. The terms can feel confusing at first: CL, FIS, CSB, slots, waiting lists and support plans. This guide explains Virginia DD waivers for supervised living in plain language, with a focus on the Community Living (CL) and Family and Individual Supports (FIS) waivers, and how families and support coordinators use them when planning a move to a supervised home. It is general information only. For decisions about a specific person, always check with your Community Services Board and support coordinator.
What Is a DD Waiver?
Virginia’s Developmental Disability (DD) Waivers are Medicaid home and community-based services programs. They help eligible people with a developmental disability receive services and supports in the community instead of in an institution. My Life, My Community, the resource site created with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), explains that the name “waiver” comes from waiving the requirement that a person must live in an institution to receive certain services, such as residential supports.
According to the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) Developmental Disability Waivers page, Virginia Medicaid administers the DD Waivers jointly with DBHDS. DMAS is the state Medicaid agency, and DBHDS handles day-to-day operations.
Virginia’s Three DD Waivers
Virginia has three waivers for people with a developmental disability:
- Building Independence (BI) Waiver: for adults 18 and older who can live mostly independently and do not need supports all the time.
- Family and Individual Supports (FIS) Waiver: for children and adults who may live with family, friends or in their own homes. Some people may need functional, behavioral or medical supports.
- Community Living (CL) Waiver: for children and adults who usually require supports in their homes all the time. Some people may need to live in a home with staff to support them with functional skills and/or complex medical or behavioral needs.
Xylis Healthcare accepts two of these: the CL Waiver and the FIS Waiver.
The Community Living (CL) Waiver
The CL Waiver is designed for people who need support around the clock. DMAS’s 2025 CL Waiver fact sheet explains that people on this waiver may need residential supports, and some may live in homes with staff who support complex medical and/or behavioral needs.
The CL fact sheet lists a broad range of covered services. Its residential services include shared living, in-home supports, supported living, group home residential and sponsored residential. Other covered services include community engagement and coaching, crisis supports, employment supports, nursing, assistive technology, environmental modifications and transition services.
The Family and Individual Supports (FIS) Waiver
The FIS Waiver is for children and adults who may live with their family, friends or in their own homes. Its 2025 fact sheet lists many of the same supports as the CL Waiver, including residential options such as shared living, in-home supports and supported living, along with respite, personal assistance, companion services, community engagement and employment supports.
Because the residential services covered differ between waivers, the person’s support coordinator is the best guide to which residential service fits their waiver and individual support plan.
Who May Be Eligible?
The DMAS fact sheets for both the CL and FIS waivers describe the eligible population as children and adults who:
- Have a diagnosis of a developmental disability
- Meet the ICF/IID (Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disability) level of care criteria
- Require waiver services within 30 days
- Are determined to need community-based waiver services to delay or avoid placement in an institution, or to leave one
Eligibility is decided through the official screening and assessment process, not by providers.
How the DD Waiver Process Works
1. Contact your local Community Services Board
The first step is your local Community Services Board (CSB) or Behavioral Health Authority (BHA). CSBs screen and assess people before they are placed on the developmental disabilities waiting list. You can find your CSB through the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards directory or the DBHDS website.
2. The waiting list and slot assignment
Virginia has a waiting list for DD Waivers, and slots are assigned based on urgency of need. DBHDS explains on its waiver information page for individuals and families that a local or regional Waiver Slot Assignment Committee recommends people for available slots according to urgency of need. When a person is assigned a slot, DBHDS sends a welcome letter.
3. Assessment and support planning
DBHDS notes that a Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) assessment is required for nearly everyone who receives DD Waiver services. The person, their family or guardian and their support coordinator then build an individual support plan around the person’s goals. Our guide to person-centered supervised living explains how that planning works.
4. Choosing a provider
With a waiver in place, families and support coordinators can explore providers. The DBHDS-supported My Life, My Community DD waiver information page includes tools to find local services and providers.
Tips for Families and Support Coordinators
- Know the waiver type. Confirm whether the person has a CL or FIS waiver before contacting providers.
- Start with goals. Think about routines, interests, community connections and the skills the person wants to build. Our article on daily living skills for adults with developmental disabilities has ideas.
- Ask providers clear questions. How is the home staffed? How are plans reviewed? How does the team communicate with families and support coordinators?
- Plan the transition. A gradual, well-planned move helps the person settle in.
- Protect privacy. Share medical details only through secure channels, not general email or web forms.
How Xylis Healthcare Supports Waiver Recipients
Xylis Healthcare Services LLC provides DD Residential Supervised Living for adults with developmental disabilities across Virginia, with our office in Northern Virginia. Our services include 24/7 supervised support, person-centered planning and daily living and community skills. We work closely with each individual, their family or guardian and their support coordinator. Learn more about our team and approach, or read answers to common questions on our FAQ page. Xylis is part of a family of local businesses that includes MastermindGOC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Virginia DD waivers can be used for supervised living with Xylis?
We accept the Community Living (CL) Waiver and the Family and Individual Supports (FIS) Waiver. A support coordinator can confirm which residential service fits the person’s waiver and plan.
What if my loved one is not on a waiver yet?
Contact your local Community Services Board to request a screening. You are also welcome to call us with questions about next steps.
Who can make a referral?
Support coordinators, case managers, families, guardians and individuals can all make a referral through our referrals page.
Where can I find official waiver information?
The DMAS DD Waivers page, the DBHDS waiver information page and My Life, My Community are the best official starting points.
Talk With Xylis About DD Waiver Supervised Living
If you are a family member or support coordinator exploring Virginia DD waivers for supervised living, we are here to help you think through next steps. Call (240) 639-2059, email xylishealthcare@outlook.com or reach us through our contact page. Our office is at 2121 Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria, VA 22314.