Keystone Human Services of Lancaster

A Vision of Excellence in Services

Keystone Human Services of Lancaster began providing services and supports to families and individuals within Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1984. It was then that Keystone opened its first home on Queen Street and supported 12 people in need of Mental Health Residential Services. Since that time our supports to families and people in need of services have expanded to include Mental Retardation Residential Services, Family Living Services, and Family and Community Support Services.

Founded as an organization to support people as they move from large, impersonal state centers to community based services, our mission has remained consistent:

To act as a change agent, creating opportunities for growth and meaningful life choices so that people can be valued and contributing members of their communities.

In recognizing that people with disabilities are members of our society and can live successfully in their own communities, we have successfully helped to reunite families and strengthen relationships. We have seen friendships flourish where none had existed. We have seen people lead lives of tremendous richness rather than deprivation.

Dispelling the Myth

It was once believed that some people with very challenging behaviors could not be served in their communities. Keystone Human Services of Lancaster recognizes that these behaviors are often symptoms of trauma and other treatable causes and has demonstrated that with intensive therapeutic supports, people previously thought to be unable to leave hospital settings can be served safely and successfully in the community.

We believe that this has been possible due to the vision of Keystone Human Services. This vision has guided us over the past twenty years as we developed our services and worked to create a better and safer world for everyone.

A Word from the Executive Director

James LaGraffe, Executive Director

I am continually amazed by the dedication and commitment of our staff. I have seen so many examples of staff who are exceeding expectations in their dedication to serving the people we support. Recently, two of our staff members spent two weeks in Puerto Rico supporting José, a man we serve, as he reconnected with his family. An additional staff member took time from her personal vacation in Puerto Rico to support José. It is dedicated staff like these and others who ensure a bright future for KHSL and the people we serve. I invite you to read more below about José's trip to Puerto Rico.

I would like to welcome two new members of our leadership team. Joanne DeHaven joins us as our Director of Human Resources and Jo Anne Meyer is our new Director of Mental Health Services. Both of them bring extensive backgrounds and skills to KHSL, and we're happy to have them join our team.

After several years of serving individuals with mental illness, the Drop-In Center will be closing. The Drop-In Center served as a fun, safe environment for individuals with mental illness, where they could participate in a variety of activities. Although this program is closing, we are committed to ensuring that the people we served through the Center continue to receive the services they need from other local providers.

As we move forward in our 25th anniversary year, I look forward to a bright future of continued success and renewed commitment to the people we serve.

Jim LaGraffe, Executive Director

Archive of past messages

Service Spotlight

Transitional Age CRR

The Transitional Age CRR program provides a supportive, homelike, community-based living arrangement for young adults in recovery from mental illness. This flexible, recovery-oriented program supports young adults age 18-25 to develop the skills necessary to move to a more independent living arrangement.

Individuals live in a group home in Lancaster County with supports available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services are recovery-oriented and include individual counseling and small group sessions to help individuals build their skills to prepare them to live independently in the community.

Individuals set goals and receive support in self care, health care, domestic skills, nutritional education, medication and mental illness management, mobility, money management, interpersonal skills, vocational and educational pursuits, leisure activities, time structuring and community participation.

Individuals in the Transitional Age CRR program have recently achieved many successes. Four of them are now employed in jobs they enjoy. Two young men are pursuing higher education and one young man recently moved into his own apartment. A young woman in the program received her driver's license – the first person in the program to do so. All of the young men and women in the program have increased their independence and are actively working to achieve their goals.

Industry Highlights

Focus on Recovery: US Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association Conference

Eight of our staff members attended the US Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association Conference on June 28-July 2 in Norfolk, Virginia. This 34^th Annual Training Conference focused on “Navigating the Depths of Psychiatric Rehabilitation,” featuring a series of workshops and institutes centering on community-oriented rehabilitation services and recovery for individuals with psychiatric disabilities. Our team returned from the conference rejuvenated, with many ideas and practices for our work here in Lancaster. We are continuing to expand our knowledge so we can provide the highest quality community-based, recovery-oriented services for the people we serve.

Reconnecting with Family: José's story

José and his family

José recently had the opportunity to return to his birthplace in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico and visit his family. Accompanied by two of our staff, he spent two weeks in Puerto Rico. While staying at the Holiday Inn Ponce, he visited the sights, including the oldest fire station in Ponce, the zoo and historical sites of Mayaguez, and the fort in San Juan where Christopher Columbus landed! Most importantly, José was able to reconnect with his family. He visited his brother and his family in Rio Grande, where his brother owns land with orange and banana trees and passion fruit and has horses and goats. The family had a cookout, where José drank fresh coconut water and passion fruit juice. He and his family spent a wonderful day at Luquillo Beach playing in the water, eating good food and enjoying their time together. We took lots of pictures and José brought souvenirs back for his mother and friends in Pennsylvania. It was a great time for José and his family.

Caught in the Act of Excellence

Have you caught a KHSL staff member in the act of excellence? Nominate him or her for our Caught in the Act of Excellence award!