Resources for
People with Special Needs
In Blair County
Finding Employment
Our Supported Employment services are intended to encourage and promote additional potential for growth beyond what our day services provide for VIPs who express an interest in working competitively in the community. Supported Employment services are offered in lieu of or in conjunction with ongoing day services for these VIPs, depending upon their needs and long-term goals and desires. These services are provided in a variety of community settings and work to assist VIPs in obtaining and sustaining competitive integrated employment. These services include career assessments, job finding and development, and job coaching and support.
Community And Residential Empowerment Services
C.A.R.E.S. of Central PA
To Learn more or begin recieving these services.... Organization Address: 2013 Sandy Drive State College, PA 16803 (admin office, lifesharing/respite, and employment headquarters). 801 Allegheny St. Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 (Hollidaysburg day program) Hours of Operation: Employment - Depends on the individual's hours of employment All office hours for each service are 8am to 4pm. Phone Number: Monica Miller 570-225-5514, she handles all referrals for each service Email Address: mmiller@caresofcentralpa.org Eligibility Requirements: To participate in services, the individual needs to be at least 18 years old and in most cases, needs a physical/TB test within the last year to start services. We provide our services all through the Central PA region. They would need funding through a waiver or they could private pay to attend services. Cost: The cost would depend on which service the individual is interested in and the amount of hours/days they would be attending that service. Most services are often waiver/county funded or can be billed through private pay. Individuals would contact their county's intellectual disabilities and mental health office to have a case opened and work with a case worker to work on obtaining funding. Help paying for services: Individuals would contact their county's intellectual disabilities and mental health office to have a case opened and work with a case worker to work on obtaining funding. Funding is needs based and sometimes there are waiting lists. Benefits counseling: We provide benefits counseling through our Employment Coordinator/Benefits Counselor, Emily Martin. Referrals for this service go through Monica Miller. Do you accept private insurance: For the services we offer, we would not use/bill an individual's insurance. Steps to begin receiving services: Any individual that is looking for day program services, lifesharing/respite services, employment services, or benefits counseling in the Central PA region would reach out to Monica Miller at 570-225-5514 or mmiller@caresofcentralpa.org to discuss the referral process for a CARES of Central PA service. While determining which resources are the best for you or your loved one, this organization would like you to know: At C.A.R.E.S. of Central PA we are all about individual's choices and we are person centered. For day program, individuals are an integral part of their community. We are in the community at least 75% of the time at program working on building community connections, volunteering at local non-profit agencies, participating in educational and recreational activities, and working on skills that are important to each individual. Individuals help choose their daily activities each day to work on important skills such as time management, decision making, and team building skills. Many of our fun activities for day program can be seen on our "CARES of Central PA Inc," FaceBook page (Link Below). Our employment service has a high success rate of people obtaining employment and getting out into the workforce. Day program also helps prepare individuals for employment by volunteering, building community connections, and working on various skills to help them in the job seeking process. All Service Categories C.A.R.E.S. of Central PA is Listed Under: Day Program Finding Employment Employment Training Life Sharing Services Respite Services Benefits Counseling
The Center for Independent Living
Finding Employment
To Learn more or begin recieving these services.... Steps to begin receiving services: Individuals may call the office and an Independent Living Specialist will contact the individual. Phone Number: 814-949-1905 Hours of Operation: Monday -Tuesday 8am -4pm, Friday by appointment Address: 3013 Beale Ave Ste B102 Altoona PA 16601 Email Address: mdombrowski@cilscpa.org Eligibility Requirements: Individuals self-declare that they have a significant disability. The CILSCPA service region includes: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana and Somerset Counties. Cost: CILSCPA is funded through a grant from the Federal Government. There is no cost for Consumers. This organization would also like you to know: We help students learn and maintain the independent living skills that they need to lead full lives in a community setting. All Service Categories the CIL is listed under: Finding Employment Employment training Support Groups Independent Living Help Finding Services
Skills of Central PA, INC
Finding Employment: Skills staff works closely with people to achieve their goal of securing a competitive paying job. Services include:
-Career assessments, job shadowing, and job readiness courses
-Assistance with the pre-employment phase such as resume building and interviewing skills
-Job searching, job finding, and job placement
-Direct training on the job via Skills’ Employment Training Specialists
-Retraining and follow up as needed
For more about this service click here:
To Learn more or begin recieving these services.... Steps does to begin receiving services: Once an individual makes a choice of services, intake meeting is set up with day services, support coordination, individual and family and or residential provider. Service requirements are reviewed. Once all required paperwork is obtained and completed as per licensing requirements a start date is established and services are started. Transportation is contacted by the support coordinator to learn what options or if this service is available. If transportation isn't available, the support coordinator will seek other means for transporting to and from services. Review website and reach out based on region. Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8am to 4pm (Bedford and Somerset Counties) Employment Services Address: 5016 6th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602 Phone Number: 814-944-4519 (Blair County) Employment Services Address: 5016 6th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602 Phone Number: 814-944-4519 (Centre County) Employment Services Address: 1225 Benner Pike, State College, PA 16801 Phone Number: 814-272-0377 (Ebensburg)(Cambria County) Employment Services Address: 957 Rowena Drive, Ebensburg, PA 15931 Phone Number: 814-944-4519 (Johnstown)(Cambria County)Employment Services Address: 957 Rowena Drive, Ebensburg, PA 15931 Phone Number: 814-944-4519 (Lycoming-Clinton Counties) Employment Services Address: 701 Allegheny Street, Box 12, Jersey Shore, PA 17740 Phone Number: 570-865-6471 Email Address (Go to the website at): https://www.skillsofcentralpa.org/contact/ Eligibility Requirements: 18 years or older or an organic brain disorder. People don't have to live in a specific area (however, transportation could be an issue, depending on the location of their residence). Individuals are required to be open with support coordination and be authorized for services. Individuals can self-pay, but this route may be fairly costly to the individual. Cost: Day services bills per every 15 minutes. Depending on the needs of the individual (staff to individual ratio) the cost varies. Help paying for services: Being authorized for services, typically pays for services. This authorization would determine the amount of time an individual would attend chosen service. Is there benefits counseling: N/A Do you accept private insurance: We currently don't have these sources as paying for day services. To learn more, go to: www.skillsofcentralpa.org (Button to website can be found below) While determining which resources are the best for you or your loved one, this organization would like you to know: Activities are planned but with weather conditions and the interest of the individual, planned activities may change from day to day or week to week. The use of a communication book is beneficial to both the ATS staff as well as the parent/provider to keep current with what happened at the program or at home. Other Service Categories Skills is listed Under: Day Programs Respite Behavioral Support Independent Living Assisted Living Group Homes Employment Training Finding Employment
LPhipps LLC
To Learn more or begin recieving these services.... What steps does someone need to take to begin receiving services/attend your program? Referrals come through Office of Departmental Programs (ODP) and Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) Address: 1387 Lafaytte Road Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 8 am to 4 pm Phone number : 814-381-3015 Email address: l.phipps@live.com Eligibility requirements: Bedford and Blair County What is the cost for the people you serve? Billed through PROMISE Do not accept private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare. Weekly/monthly activities schedule: We work when our customers work. One-on-one assistance is available.
The Learning Community of PA
Supported Employment- We assist people in personalized job searches by exploring places and opportunities in and around their communities. We then build from a person’s positive experiences to connect that person with work suited to his or her particular gifts and interests.
Each person is matched with a direct support professional who works closely with employers, families, and other team members to find a volunteer work opportunity or community employment.
Our goal is to enable each person to be a valued and contributing citizen in the community in which he or she works.
To Learn more or begin recieving these services.... What steps does someone need to take to begin receiving services/attend your program? If a person is not already signed up with an ODP waiver they can Self-refer to Southern Alleghenies Services Management 814-949-2912. A person can also Self-refer to Office of Vocational Rehabilitation 814-946-7240 Address: 125 Maple Hollow Road Duncansville, PA 16635-7920 Hours of Operation: Office hours are Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Program Hours varies by plan development. Phone Number: 814-949-1905 Email address: clansberry@tlcofpa.org Eligibility Requirements: We are currently only providing services in Blair County. We accept Office of Developmental Programs, ODP, waivers, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, OVR, or private pay. What is the cost for the people you serve? Cost is predetermined by ODP and OVR. In most cases there is no cost to service seekers. Is there any help to pay for services? Funding through ODP and OVR Is there benefits counseling? Yes, we are certified to provide benefits counseling. Do you accept private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare? Private insurance does not cover the services we provide. Medicaid and Medicare are built into ODP waivers. To learn more, go to: https://tlcofpa.org/ FOR DAY PROGRAMS Is one-on-one assistance available? Yes Is there transportation to and from the program? Is there a fee for this? Transportation is part of all services with the exception of once a person is employed at a location. We will assist with connecting to public transportation where available. Schedule/Activities: Activities are customized to the person and their interest. While determining which resources are the best for you or your loved one, this organization would like you to know: There are other options for most services. Picking the provider should be a matching fit that works for the service seeker and the provider. Other Service Categories the Learning Community is listed under: Finding Employment Employment training Independent Living Group Homes Assisted Living Benefits Counseling
The Empowering Lives Foundation
We provide community-based services for people to discover their purpose & talents through social engagements.
We support people to live on their own or people who want an Alternative to a day program with volunteer work and skill building.
We provide services through the Medicaid waiver and the office of developmental programs. Our mission is to help people to live connected lives by helping them discover their purpose & talents through social experiences. We support people 16-85 mostly people in their twenties who are creating their life with employment, daily task, Independent or supported living and community connections.
To Learn more or begin recieving these services.... Steps does to begin receiving services: Most people have a waiver the starting point in Blair County is SASMG in Lakemont (For SASMG contact info go to the Flow Chart page of this website) Organization Address: 1002 Logan blvd ste 114 pmb #143 Altoona pa 16602 Hours of Operation: Weekdays 7 am - 7 pm Phone Number: 814-232-1730 Email Address: John@empoweringlivesfound.org Eligibility Requirements: We support people in Blair, Bedford, and Huntington counties. Most people have a Medicare waiver from the office of developmental programs. Cost: Most costs are covered through the waiver some families have paid out of pocket. Fees vary. There is help to pay for services. Do you accept private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare? No insurance just waiver funding To learn more, go to: Our website is currently under construction at www.empowering lives foundation.org FOR DAY PROGRAMS Is one-on-one assistance available? Yes, we have one on one or offer 1:2/3 support our day program is 100% community based and developed specifically for the person being supported depending on their interest and abilities. Is there transportation to and from the program? Is there a fee for this? Yes, we pick up the person and return them home or where they want/need to go. Weekly/monthly activities schedule: It is a custom plan to each person. Other service categories The Empowering Lives Foundation is listed under: Finding Employment Employment Training Independent Living
Taproot Kitchen
Community Service and Employment Opportunities
Skill building - work alongside our staff in gardening, harvesting, prepping, cooking, selling prepared food.
Employment - part time employment at garden, kitchen and market and catering sales
To Learn more or begin recieving these services.... Steps to begin receiving services: Please contact Sharon Schafer at hello@taprootkitchen.org; or call 814-574-3901. We will provide necessary information and orientations. Address: 418 W. Nittany Ave Hours of Operation: Tues - Sat (6-3) Phone Number: 814-574-3901 Email Address: hello@taprootkitchen.org Eligibility Requirements: Have transportation, and if needed, social service staff or parent support with you. Cost: None To learn more, go to: www.taprootkitchen.org Instagram: taproot_kitchen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaprootKitchenSC One-on-one assistance: We work as a team with a ratio of 2 employees per staff; volunteers usually come with support staff but if they come independently we use the same ratio as for employee. While determining which resources are the best for you or your loved one, this organization would like you to know: We are a fun team, looking for volunteers of ALL abilities to work and volunteer with us. Some of our participants have many skills, some need one on one support. But we provide a way for everyone to be involved. There is something for everyone; squeezing limes, cutting veggies, arranging catering platters, folding napkins, etc.
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
The Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, or OVR, provides vocational rehabilitation services to help persons with disabilities prepare for, obtain or maintain employment.
PA CareerLink
"Working under the guidelines of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, we are consortium of public and private partners with the common goal of providing outstanding, frictionless service to our jobseeker and employer customers
We have offices in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, and Somerset Counties. In addition to these physical locations, we frequently provide services in schools, community centers, libraries, and employer sites".
Has info on career planning, skills training, and resume assistance.
Resources Provided by a Transition Coordinator
Career Onestop: https://www.careeronestop.org/
-Includes self-assessments, job exploration, job training information, job searches, etc.
My Future: https://myfuture.com/
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Careers, college, military
PA Career Zone: https://www.pacareerzone.org/
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Many assessments and activities. Can create an account and it will keep/organize the things you have completed. Provides information about next steps for students.
OVR Flowchart: https://padlet.com/lrusso17/virtual-secondary-transition-for-tac-kgkk0f9puw11/wish/1111182446
Job Corps: https://www.jobcorps.gov/
Career Coach: https://pennhighlands.emsicc.com/