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

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Keystone Human Services of Lancaster. In 1984, we opened our first home in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and since then we have continued to develop our services and supports for families and individuals. Today, we renew our commitment to providing quality services to help individuals lead meaningful lives in the community.

To ensure that we continue to deliver the quality services you have come to expect from Keystone, we have redesigned our employee orientation and training. Jessica McPherson, our director of education and development, has improved our orientation, incorporating multimedia and making it more interactive. Our goal is to ensure all our employees are best prepared to provide quality services.

One hundred and fifty of our staff recently attended our Staff Appreciation Breakfast, where we recognized all of our employees celebrating 5, 10, 15 and 20 year anniversaries. Thank you for your enduring dedication to the individuals we serve. With such a caring and committed staff, we look forward to another 25 successful years of service.

James LaGraffe, Executive Director

Archive of past messages

Service Spotlight

Peer Support Initiative

The Peer Support Initiative provides support for individuals diagnosed with mental illness to help them move toward recovery. The program focuses on building relationships and environments that provide individuals with hope, empowerment, choices and opportunities so they can be valued, participating members of the community.

Individuals are connected with specially trained and certified Recovery Specialists. Because Recovery Specialists have previously received services for their own mental illness and traveled similar journeys to recovery, they have a unique ability to empathize with the individuals they support.

Supports may be provided individually or in a group setting and may be combined with other services an individual is receiving. Peer supports are individually tailored to reflect personal goals and may include domestic skill building, nutritional education, medication and illness management, increased mobility in the community, money management, interpersonal skill building, improved physical health, spirituality, identification and pursuit of vocational or educational growth and leisure activities, time structuring and community participation.

Industry Highlights

Celebrating Anniversaries of Service

We recently held our Staff Appreciation Breakfast, where we recognized all of our employees who reached milestone years of service. Two of our employees have been part of KHSL’s family for many years, and we would like to recognize them again. Cathy Deebel, our Human Resource Coordinator, has been with us for 20 years, and Allison Rios, our Program Director at the Richmond Road Community Residence, has served for 15 years. Thank you for your many years of service and dedication!

Improved Training for Service

As part of a quality improvement initiative, we have restructured our new employee orientation and training. Using an interactive, multimedia approach, the restructured employee training presents material in a much more engaging fashion. Not only does it engage new employees, but it also involves employee supervisors, ensuring that we comply with licensing and training requirements.

The new employee training will increase our staff’s knowledge and awareness of their position and equip them to continue to provide the quality services Keystone has become known for.

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!