Services

What We Do

Penn-York provides a number of services, most of which fall under the categories of Community Support Services, Employment Services, Family Services.

Community Support Services

Community Participation Supports

This service is a community-based program focusing on building interest in and developing skills and potential for competitive integrated employment. This program is set up around individually tailored goals for the attendee. These goals are based on the needs and wants of each Individual, as described in their Individual Support Plan (ISP).

Respite

Respite, 15 Minutes – This service allows our agency to supervise and support individuals on a short-term basis to allow the primary care providers to attend planned or emergency situations. This service is provided in 15-minute increments, not to exceed 24 hours per instance. Respite, 24 Hours – This service is similar to the 15-minute variation but is for 24 hours at a time. Typically, the service is provided outside of the Individual’s primary home. This service can be used for emergency situations or to provide relief for the persons typically providing care.

Companion

This service is focused on the health and safety of the participant. Companion is a non-goal-driven service designed to allow the agency to supervise the participant in a private home setting. Staff members assist the Individual with any activity to allow for a successful and integrated daily life.

Transportation

This service is designed to allow for the transportation of individuals to and from their services/programs with Penn-York. Being in a rural setting, our participants cannot always rely on public transportation to attend their services. This service also allows the typical care provider to worry about one less aspect of the Individuals Day.

In-Home and Community

This service is provided to individuals who live independently or with a family provider. This is a personalized goal-driven service focused on providing the Individual with the support that they need to live independently in their community.

Supported Living

Similar to In-Home and Community services, this service is designed for individuals living independently. To receive this service, the home in which the service is rendered must be owned, leased, or rented by the participant. This service is intended to improve or maintain the skills necessary to live more independently and be more productive and participatory in community life.

Behavioral Support

This support service is intended for individuals who may need assistance in behavioral aspects of their lives. The outcomes of this service are determined based on a behavior assessment. This allows for the provider and the recipient to have a clear understanding of what behaviors must be addressed in the provided service.

Housing and Tenancy

This service is intended to assist individuals looking to live on their own for the first time or individuals who live on their own but may be in jeopardy of losing their residence. This service allows the agency to assist the participant in securing funds, benefits, and any additional assistance to ensure that the Individual can live an independent and successful life.

Independent Living

Independent Living Services are intended to assist a youth in developing the skills they will need to become a productive and healthy adult. These services provide the tools to prepare them to achieve their goals in life. The IL program helps current and former foster care youth, ages 14-23, make a good transition into adulthood. IL is a mandated service for any youth that is in an out of home placement, however is a voluntary service once they are no longer in the custody of Bradford County Children and Youth Services. IL is a safety net to access additional services, including: Daily living skills, Home management, Budgeting and money management, Career and educational planning, Housing assistance, and/or Mentoring. An assessment is given to all youth to determine what areas need focusing on.

Employment Services

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)

This service is contracted to our agency by the State of Pennsylvania. Designed for Individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities, this service focuses on all aspects of employment, starting from resume building and job finding, all the way to individualized support in the workplace.

Supported Employment

This service is designed to assist our Individuals in various areas, mainly focused on obtaining and maintaining competitive integrated employment. The service definition for Supported Employment is broad by design, which allows for the agency to assist in a number of ways for the participant.

Family Services

Family Group Decision Making

This process is utilized to bring families together with their natural supports, as well as Service Providers, to develop a plan around a specific area of concern. This is a voluntary process, and referrals are received through Bradford County IDD, Mental Health, and Children and Youth Services. The family creates a plan, with the assistance of their supports, that is presented to the worker(s) on how they are able to alleviate the area of concern. A Family Group Conference is one major meeting to bring all supports together at one time. The guest list of invited persons is generated by the parent/guardians wishing to have the Family Group Conference. There are pre-meetings to prepare everyone for the Family Group Conference and a Post Conference Meeting to bring the group back together again to go over the plan and ensure that things are moving forward accordingly.

Blended Perspective Meeting

- This process is utilized to bring children together with their identified supports. The purpose of a Blended Perspective Meeting is to identify what all supports feel is a child’s greatest unmet need. An unmet need is not considered to be a paid service, however, things that all children/individuals need in order to continue to be successful throughout life (example: love, structure, stability, relationships with family members, etc.). The guest list of invited persons is generated by individuals that are wishing to be a support for a child, and not limited to the individuals that a parent would want to invite. Once everyone identifies the greatest unmet need for a child(ren), this then becomes the purpose for a Family Group Decision Making Conference. This process is utilized for children that are in the custody of Bradford County Children and Youth Services. A Blended Perspective Meeting can be done with children that are not in the custody of Bradford County Children and Youth Services, however a parent/guardian must be in agreement with this being completed.

Youth Transition Conference

This process is utilized to bring a youth (individual 14 years or older) together with their natural supports to develop a plan for them to transition from one part of their life to another. Many times, this process is used for youth that are transitioning into adulthood from placement. During this meeting the youth and supports discuss goals that should be looked at as they are transitioning. Similar to a Family Group Decision Making Conference, this is one major meeting to bring all supports together at one time. The guest list of invited persons is generated by the youth wishing to have the Youth Transition Conference. There are pre-meetings to prepare everyone for the Youth Transition Conference and a Post Conference Meeting to bring the group back together again to go over the plan and ensure that things are moving forward accordingly.

Family Finding

This is a process that is required by state law to be completed on any child that has involvement with a Child Welfare Agency. This is utilized to identify natural supports that are available to a child and what specific things that support is willing and able to do. This is done with children are in the custody of Bradford County Children and Youth Services, as well as all children that have an open case with this agency. Family members, as well as other identified supports (neighbors, teachers, church members, friends, etc.) are reached out to by letter, phone calls, and in person visits to discuss in what way they may, or may not, be able to be a support for the child(ren). This is all generated into a report that is given back to the referring agency so they are aware of what supports are available for the identified Individual. Referrals can also be received from Bradford County IDD program and Bradford County Mental Health, however must be agreed upon by the Individual (if an adult) or their parent/guardian.

Parenting

Penn York parenting is an in-home service that works with families on eliminating concerns that have been identified by CYS. The goal for our parent educators is to strengthen families so that family units can stay together. If a family is not able to stay together the parent educators works on goals for reunification to happen. Families are referred to community agencies that will continue supporting families once CYS is able to close. Parent educators are assisting families in securing stable house, getting involved in mental health and drug and alcohol services, assisting with truancy, housing cleanliness, and much more.

Contact Us

If you are interested in learning more about the services that we provide, or have any further questions, please contact us at (570) 888-5891 or reach out to us on Facebook.