A Serenity Service
Family Hire
You already provide the care. With Family Hire, you can be paid for it. Serenity hires a parent, sibling, relative, or trusted friend as a Direct Support Professional for their own loved one — so the person who knows them best is the one supporting them, and no family has to choose between caring and earning.
All 21 NJ Counties · DDD Supports Program & Community Care Program
Family Hire is not a different kind of care — it is a different kind of caregiver. Serenity employs your family member as a Direct Support Professional and handles everything an employer handles: screening, training, scheduling, payroll, and compliance with the Division of Developmental Disabilities. You get to keep caring for your loved one. We take care of the rest.
What Family Hire Can Look Like
- Help with personal care and hygiene — bathing, dressing, grooming
- Meal preparation, mealtime support, and medication reminders
- Mobility assistance and getting to medical appointments
- Getting out into the community — shopping, classes, activities, outings
- Light household tasks that keep daily routines running
- Building the everyday skills that lead to more independence
Every plan is built around the goals in your loved one's Service Plan, so no two look exactly alike.
Who Can Be Paid to Provide Care?
It is your care, and it is your choice. Almost anyone close to your loved one can be hired:
Family members are held to exactly the same standards as any other Serenity staff member — the same background checks, the same training, the same care. That is what NJ DDD requires, and it is what keeps your loved one safe.
Does Your Loved One Qualify?
Family Hire is funded through the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities. To be eligible, your loved one must:
Be 21 or older
DDD adult services begin at age 21. Families can apply starting at 18 so everything is in place when the time comes.
Live in New Jersey
Your loved one must be a New Jersey resident. We serve families across all 21 counties.
Have NJ Medicaid & DDD eligibility
A developmental disability that began before age 22, plus active New Jersey Medicaid — the funding source for all DDD services.
Not enrolled in DDD yet? Call us anyway. We help families through the application at no cost — you do not have to figure the system out alone.
How Family Hire Works
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1
Call us to see if your loved one qualifies
One conversation tells us where you stand. If your loved one is not enrolled in DDD yet, we will help you apply.
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2
We coordinate with your Support Coordinator
Your Support Coordinator adds the service to your loved one's Service Plan and authorizes the hours. Nothing can begin until that approval is in place, and we handle the back-and-forth for you.
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3
We onboard you as a Serenity employee
Background checks and fingerprinting, registry and drug screening, DDD-required training, and CPR and First Aid certification. We arrange it, we pay for it, and we walk you through every step.
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4
Start providing care — and get paid for it
Log your hours, and we handle payroll. Pay is competitive and based on the level of care your loved one needs, so we go over your specific rate before you commit to anything.
Which Services Family Hire Covers
Family Hire is the way the care is delivered — by someone your loved one already trusts. The service itself is one of three Serenity programs, and your Support Coordinator will confirm which one fits your loved one's plan.
Community Based Supports
One-on-one support at home, at work, or out in the community, through the DDD Supports Program.
Learn moreIndividual Supports
Hands-on daily assistance to live more independently, through the DDD Community Care Program.
Learn moreRespite Supports
Short-term relief for the primary caregiver, in the home or out in the community.
Learn moreFamily Hire Across New Jersey
Serenity is an approved NJ DDD provider serving families across New Jersey, and we are approved to support individuals with medical and behavioral acuity needs. Wherever you are in the state, if your loved one is eligible, the person who knows them best can be the one who supports them.
Back to all servicesFrequently Asked Questions
Family Hire Questions
Who can be hired to provide care?
A parent, sibling, aunt or uncle, cousin, grandparent, spouse, legal guardian, or a trusted friend can all be hired and paid. NJ DDD allows a family member to be paid provided they meet the same standards as any staff member who is not related to the person served — the same background checks, the same training, the same requirements.
Does my loved one need Medicaid to qualify?
Yes. NJ DDD services are funded through Medicaid, so the person receiving care must have New Jersey Medicaid along with DDD eligibility.
Do I need Medicaid to be the caregiver?
No. Only the person receiving care needs Medicaid. As the caregiver you are employed by Serenity, so you do not need Medicaid yourself.
My loved one has both Medicare and Medicaid. Do they still qualify?
Yes. Having Medicare does not disqualify anyone, as long as they also have New Jersey Medicaid and are eligible for DDD services.
What does a family caregiver actually do?
It depends on the goals in your loved one's Service Plan. It commonly includes help with personal care and hygiene, meal preparation, medication reminders, mobility, getting to appointments and community activities, light household tasks, and building the everyday skills that lead to more independence.
How many hours can I work?
Hours are set by what your loved one's Support Coordinator authorizes in their Service Plan and by what your loved one actually needs. We will walk you through exactly how many hours are approved before you start.
Is there a minimum number of hours I have to work?
No. There is no required minimum. Many families start with a few hours a week and adjust as needs change.
What training and screening do I need to complete?
You must be at least 18 and complete state and federal background checks with fingerprinting, registry checks, and drug screening, plus DDD-required training including Danielle's Law, Stephen Komninos' Law, prevention of abuse, neglect and exploitation, service documentation, and CPR and First Aid certification. Serenity arranges and pays for all of it.
How much does Family Hire pay?
Pay is competitive and depends on the level of care your loved one needs. Because rates vary by service and acuity, we go over your specific rate on the phone before you commit to anything.
What if my loved one is not enrolled in DDD yet?
Call us anyway. We help families through the DDD application at no cost. Eligibility and the budget are determined by the Division of Developmental Disabilities, and the Support Coordinator writes the Service Plan, but we will guide you through each step.
Ready to Get Started?
Call us to find out whether your loved one qualifies — and how soon you could be hired to care for them.
Serenity is an approved NJ DDD provider agency, not a government website. Eligibility, budgets, and service authorizations are determined by the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities and your Support Coordinator.