MAINSTAY LIFE SERVICES

FOR OVER 50 YEARS, MAINSTAY LIFE SERVICES (MAINSTAY) (AND ITS PREDECESSOR ORGANIZATIONS HORIZON HOMES AND IDLEWOOD CENTER) HAVE SUPPORTED PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (DD). MAINSTAY SUPPORTS OVER 300 PEOPLE, AND THEIR FAMILIES, THROUGHOUT ALLEGHENY AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:RESIDENTIAL: MAINSTAY OWNS AND OPERATES 42 COMMUNITY HOMES WITH 24-HOUR SUPPORTS IN ALLEGHENY (40) AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES (2), SUPPORTING OVER 110 PEOPLE IN OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS. NINE HOMES SUPPORT ADULTS LIVING WITH PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME, A RARE GENETIC DISORDER. LIFE SHARING: THROUGH LIFE SHARING, FAMILIES WELCOME A PERSON WITH DD INTO THEIR HOME TO LIVE IN A SHARED, SUPPORTIVE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT.SUPPORTED LIVING: SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF PARTICIPANTS BY ASSISTING THEM IN THE AREAS OF SELF-CARE, HEALTH AND WELLNESS ACTIVITIES, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND MORE. IN-HOME AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT: SERVICES ASSIST PEOPLE TO ACQUIRE, MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO LIVE MORE INDEPENDENTLY AND PARTICIPATE MEANINGFULLY IN THE COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION SUPPORT (CPS): CPS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY INCLUSION AND BUILDING INTEREST IN AND DEVELOPING SKILLS AND POTENTIAL FOR COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT. SUPPORTS BUILD ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S PREFERENCES, GIFTS, AND STRENGTHS. BEHAVIORAL AND CLINICAL SUPPORTS: SUPPORTS ARE PROVIDED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING HELP TO OVERCOME BARRIERS TO INTEGRATION INTO THEIR HOME, COMMUNITY, OR COPING WITH DAILY LIFE. IN JULY 2022, WE WERE LICENSED AS A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINIC TO OFFER SPECIALIZED THERAPEUTIC SUPPORTS BY A LICENSED CLINICIAN TO AUGMENT PSYCHIATRIC CARE. EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS: SERVICES INCLUDE JOB DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY JOB PLACEMENT AND ON-THE-JOB SUPPORTS, WITH THE GOAL OF FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE AND COMMUNITY INCLUSION.COMPANION SERVICES: SERVICES ARE FOR PEOPLE 18 AND OVER LIVING IN PRIVATE HOMES AND PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED SUPERVISION/ASSISTANCE DESIGNED TO ENSURE THEIR HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE. TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTS: MAINSTAY IS DEDICATED TO HARNESSING THE POWER OF DIGITAL CONNECTIONS TO ENRICH LIVES AND UNLOCK POTENTIAL. THIS INCLUDES EXPANDING ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY THAT ENABLES PEOPLE WITH DD TO LIVE AND THRIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. OUR COMMITMENT TO TECHNOLOGY HAS LED TO MAINSTAY BECOMING THE FIRST PENNSYLVANIA PROVIDER TO RECEIVE THE TECHNOLOGY FIRST ACCREDITATION FROM SHIFT.SELF-ADVOCATES: OUR ADVOCATES ADVISORY BOARD BEGAN IN 2019. THE GROUP WORKS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND SATISFACTION OF SERVICES. ADVOCATES ARE INVOLVED IN RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, SERVE ON COMMITTEES AND ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. MAINSTAY WORKS FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITH ALL LEVELS OF DD; ALL SUPPORTS ARE PERSON-CENTERED AND INDIVIDUALIZED. WE HELP PEOPLE TO LIVE MEANINGFUL AND SUCCESSFUL LIVES, WHILE SUPPORTING THEM AS THEY LEARN NEW SKILLS, DEVELOP FRIENDSHIPS, AND GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY. MANY PEOPLE WE WORK FOR ARE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, WITH GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AND A HIGH LEVEL OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND INDEPENDENCE.