Mental Retardation Services

Services and Supports Directory

The Services and Supports Directory is a tool for individuals with mental retardation,their families, and circle of support to locate services and service providers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The directory can help you locate particular service provider or search for services and supports provided in an individual's community. This directory does not include information on all providers but only of those that have chosen to be listed in it. To access the Services and Supports directory, go to the HCSIS website.

There are a number of services under this category. In recognition of the unique needs of individuals, including assuring each individual’s health and safety in the delivery of service, different intensities of these services are available. Please contact your supports coordinator to find out which intensity will best meet your needs.

Habilitation is designed to assist individuals to gain, maintain, and improve skills in the areas of self-care, daily living activities, social skills, and to enable the person’s involvement in community activities. These services help people live in their home; participate in local community activities; use community resources such as parks, pools, movies etc.; and access informal supports such as service clubs, senior programs, and other community opportunities. Services can be provided by a service agency that provides trained individuals to provide assistance or by someone the person and family already knows who is qualified and willing to provide assistance.
Community Habilitation is delivered in an Adult training facility licensed by the Department of Public Welfare under the Ch. 2380 regulations. Adult training facilities provide services that assist individuals in meeting personal needs and performing basic daily activities.
Prevocational services prepare people for paid employment. They are provided in a facility licensed by the Department of Public Welfare under the Ch. 2390 regulations.
Transitional work services offer work experience in a real work environment that is highly supervised. These environments are often known as enclaves, mobile work force, affirmative industry, work station in industry, and transitional employment.

Job finding services are services directed towards preparing individuals for and obtaining placement in competitive jobs of choice. Services include but are not limited to interview skill training, resume preparation, SSI and SSDI benefits counselling and job searching.
Job Support Service is a periodic follow-up with individuals and their employers to support them in maintaining competitive jobs in their community.

Specialized support services are services provided by health care and other professionals that enable individuals and families to increase or maintain their ability to perform activities of daily living. Examples of such services are physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, visual and mobility therapy, behavioral therapy, and visiting nurse services.

Respite is a service provided on a short-term, emergency basis to relieve the primary caregivers. There is an annual four-week limit for respite services. Respite Services may be provided by a specialized agency in the person’s home, the home of a family member or friend, or in an agency licensed respite home.Respite services may also be provided by someone that the person and family already knows who is qualified and willing to provide assistance either in the person’s home, the home of a family member or a friend’s home.

Transportation services are offered to enable individuals to gain access to their community including both services and informal supports. Transportation covers emergency transportation in certain circumstances. Please contact your supports coordinator for more information about these services.

Older Adult Day Services support people in meeting their personal care and social needs. They are provided in a center that is regulated under the Department of Aging.
JCAHO Accredited/MA Certified Non-Residential Agencies providing Community Habilitation assist individuals in acquiring, retaining, and improving self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills. These are provided by the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and certified by the Office of Medical Assistance (OMAP).
Home Finding services provide assistance with activities related to self-determined housing. These include education about housing, and home ownership working with landlords, location of housing, and assessment for appropriate physical adaptations to make housing accessible.

Supports coordination services are received by all individuals enrolled in the MR system. Supports coordinators assist individuals in developing their individual support plans, choosing providers and informal supports, and monitoring the administration of services. Supports coordination services may be provided either by a county or by an outside agency that contracts with the county to provide these services.

Intermediate Service Organization (ISO) provides a service to help people hire, pay and manage their own individual providers of service. There are two models from which to choose.

Vendor services are not specific to persons with mental retardation. They are typically available to the general public. In the MR system they are often paid for through an intemediate organization. Vendor services can include public transportation, environmental adaptations, adaptive appliances and equipment, and homemaker / chore services. An example of a vendor service is the building of a wheelchair ramp at your home. For more information about specific vendor services, please contact your supports coordinator.

This is generally a small set amount of funding on a yearly basis that allows consumers and families to choose the services or supports they need within a loosely defined menu.