Northwestern Human Services: Mental Retardation Services

Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Services

Adult Training
Program Locations: Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Fulton, Philadelphia

Designed to provide a supportive environment to meet the socialization, recreational, and educational needs of individuals with mental retardation, adult training helps individuals develop skills and increase independence in the community by providing opportunities such as employment and volunteer work.

Community-Based Day Services
Program Locations: Allegheny, Cambria, Franklin, Fulton, Montgomery, Philadelphia

Offering a distinctive approach that focuses on helping people find socially valued roles within their community, this service may include full or part-time employment, supported employment, volunteer work, and recreational activities. A personalized approach to vocational and day services encourages individuals to explore options, make choices, and experience growth enabling them to discover abilities and interests they never knew they had.

Community Living
Program Locations: Allegheny, Bucks, Cambria, Chester, Crawford, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Greene, Lebanon, Montgomery, Northumberland, Philadelphia, Washington, Westmoreland

This program provides a home to a group of individuals with mental retardation who need higher levels of staff support. People living in group homes are involved in meaningful day-time activities including employment, volunteer work, social and community activities, and training programs.

Community Living Medical Homes
Program Locations: Allegheny, Cambria, Franklin, Fulton,Washington

This program provides a home to a group of individuals with severe medical and physical problems who need higher levels of staff support including professional nursing. People living in such homes are involved in meaningful daytime activities, provided out of their home environment, with an emphasis on community integration and self-determination.

Employment Services, Job Development and Coaching
Program Locations: Allegheny, Franklin, Fulton, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Westmoreland

This service gives people exposure to a variety of jobs and assistance in deciding what kind of job will be most suited to facilitate their success. Individual coaches seek jobs, help with applications and do on-the-job coaching, while seeking out natural supports from co-workers. Gradually, coaches leave job sites and only return for occasional follow-up visits.

Family Living
Program Locations: Allegheny, Dauphin, Delaware, Lehigh, Lycoming, Northumberland, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Westmoreland

Giving people choices on where and with whom they want to live, this program assists in finding families who are willing to open their homes to individuals with mental retardation. Based on the wants and desires of the individual, the program develops person-centered plans that promote growth and fulfillment.

Family Support Services (FSS)
Program Locations: Bucks, Dauphin, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lebanon, Mifflin, Philadelphia

Offering a variety of services and supports to families of a person with mental retardation living at home, this program helps them care and support the family member, so that everyone in the family can lead fulfilling and productive lives.

Home-Based Waiver Supports
Program Location: Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lebanon, Lehigh, Mifflin, Philadelphia, Westmoreland

This program is designed to offer a variety of services and supports to families, who have a child with mental retardation living at home. It provides resources and assistance that enable the family to continue to have the child remain at home. Self-determination plays a major role in the program, with families and individuals in charge of making decisions about their care and living arrangements. This program may also serve adults.

Intermediate Care Facility (ICF/MR)
Program Locations: Dauphin, Philadelphia

These residential programs, either facility or community based are for individuals with mental retardation, with challenging behaviors and other medical complications. Nursing supervision and support is provided, and individualized service plans are developed with input from the family and individual client.

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act Supports (OBRA)
Program Locations: Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Philadelphia

The purpose of this program is to provide specialized support to individuals with mental retardation who reside in nursing homes. Individual and group counseling and community involvement activities are designed to enhance and maintain a person's functioning level.

Private School
Program Location: Philadelphia

Special education is provided at the Northwestern Woodhaven Center to children with developmental disabilities who are unable to be served in public schools. With a high teacher to student ratio, the school operates year round with the goal of teaching skills necessary for the students eventual return to the public school system.

Respite Care
Program Location: Bucks

This service provides care on a short-term, and/or short notice basis for families. Staff provide leisure activities and community exposure to the individual for a day, an evening or longer.

Supported Living
Program Locations: Allegheny, Bucks, Dauphin, Lebanon, Philadelphia, Westmoreland

Designed to support persons with mental retardation who want to live independently in the community, this program promotes self-determination and assists individuals in making decisions about where and with whom they want to live. The program focuses on individuals' needs and assists them in locating a home and deciding what their living arrangements will be.

You may also email us for more information.