ImageboxPittsburgh MercyLeft ArrowRight ArrowArrow RightCloseContactContactMenuPhone IconSearchFacebookGoogle +InstagramLinkedInPinterestTwitterYouTube
Skip to Main Content
close
Language:
Font Size:
- + Reset
Menu Contact
Close
  • Our Services
    • Behavioral Health
      • About Pittsburgh Mercy Behavioral Health
      • Services for Adults
      • Services for Children & Adolescents
      • Mental Health Rehabilitation & Recovery Services
      • Mental Health Residential Services
    • Addiction Services
      • About Pittsburgh Mercy Addiction Services
      • Services for Adults
      • Services for Children & Adolescents
    • Intellectual Disabilities
      • About Pittsburgh Mercy Intellectual Disabilities Services
      • Day Support & Community Participation Services
      • Residential Services for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
      • Unlicensed Home & Community Services
      • Employment Services
      • Contact
    • Physical Health
      • About Pittsburgh Mercy Family Health Center
      • Our Services
      • Location & Hours
      • Getting Here
      • Insurances
      • Your Care Team
      • Pharmacy Services
    • Intervention Services
    • Homeless Services
      • Second Avenue Commons
      • About Pittsburgh Mercy’s Operation Safety Net
      • Street Outreach
      • Housing & Care Management
      • Physical Health
      • Project HELP
      • Student Placement Opportunities & Street Medicine Fellowship
      • Awards & Accolades
      • How You Can Help
      • Bethlehem Haven
    • Veterans Services
    • Faith Communities
      • About the Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program
      • About Faith Community Nursing & Health Ministry
      • Education for Faith Communities
      • Resources for Faith Communities
  • Your Care
  • Engage
  • Give
  • Our Organization
    • Home
    • About
    • Careers
      • Administration
      • Behavioral Health Services
      • Medical
      • Nursing
      • Professional & Management
    • Training
    • Events
    • News
      • Stories Of Hope
    • Contact Us
Close
  • Need Help? Call us.
  • Send us a Message

Pittsburgh Mercy
1200 Reedsdale Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15233-2109 USA

Call 1-877-637-2924

Email info@pittsburghmercy.org

Pittsburgh Mercy

Need Help? Call us.

1-877-637-2924

Send us a Message

  • Home
  • About
  • Careers
    • Administration
    • Behavioral Health Services
    • Medical
    • Nursing
    • Professional & Management
  • Training
  • Events
  • News
    • Stories Of Hope
  • Contact Us
  • Search
  • Your Care
  • Engage
  • Give
  • Behavioral Health
    • About Pittsburgh Mercy Behavioral Health
    • Services for Adults
    • Services for Children & Adolescents
    • Mental Health Rehabilitation & Recovery Services
    • Mental Health Residential Services
  • Addiction Services
    • About Pittsburgh Mercy Addiction Services
    • Services for Adults
    • Services for Children & Adolescents
  • Intellectual Disabilities
    • About Pittsburgh Mercy Intellectual Disabilities Services
    • Day Support & Community Participation Services
    • Residential Services for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
    • Unlicensed Home & Community Services
    • Employment Services
    • Contact
  • Physical Health
    • About Pittsburgh Mercy Family Health Center
    • Our Services
    • Location & Hours
    • Getting Here
    • Insurances
    • Your Care Team
    • Pharmacy Services
  • Intervention Services
  • Homeless Services
    • Second Avenue Commons
    • About Pittsburgh Mercy’s Operation Safety Net
    • Street Outreach
    • Housing & Care Management
    • Physical Health
    • Project HELP
    • Student Placement Opportunities & Street Medicine Fellowship
    • Awards & Accolades
    • How You Can Help
    • Bethlehem Haven
  • Veterans Services
  • Faith Communities
    • About the Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program
    • About Faith Community Nursing & Health Ministry
    • Education for Faith Communities
    • Resources for Faith Communities
Stories Of Hope

Community involvement is key to Wexford ATF restart

Woman in front of a soccer net
Posted on April 19, 2022 by Zandy Dudiak

The Wexford Adult Training Facility (ATF) has fewer persons served participating than before the pandemic shutdowns, but the smaller number has made it easier for them to get out and enjoy community life.

Man bowling
Ronnie lets the good times roll during a bowling outing.

“We’ve been doing a very good job getting people out in the community,” says Jarret Criss, program specialist. “Every single day since we’ve been back here, there’s been an outing.”

The former Ross ATF served about 20 individuals before the move to the Wexford facility. While there were some outings, many pre-pandemic activities took place on site.

Since the closure of Ross and return to Wexford in mid-March, the Wexford site activities are now more personalized. Instead of attending five days a week, some individuals attend the program on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule, or only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Woman at bowling alley giving a "thumbs up"
Teresa gives the thumbs-up to a bowling outing.

“We can give more individualized attention,” Criss says. “There are multiple opportunities to go out and do things.”

Because some activities are weather contingent, most of the planned outings are inside.

“Going to the park is nice, but you can’t go to the park all the time,” Criss says.

Fortunately, individuals served by the program have Carnegie Museum and Carnegie Science Center passes, so those are favorite destinations. They also enjoy going to Ross Park Mall and bowling.

Participants have been volunteering at Repurposed, a thrift store on McKnight Road that benefits Living in Liberty, an organization that facilitates the restoration of dignity and freedom to women and children who are victims of human trafficking. Those new skills could translate into employment for some of the persons served, Criss points out.

“I think the volunteer opportunities are fantastic,” he says. “We are an important part of the community.”

While money can be a factor for some activities, he points out that everyone in the program has their own spending money and that budgeting is an important skill for them to learn.

Paul and Tommy test their endurance at the Wheelchair Races activity at Carnegie Science Center.

The Pennsylvania Community Participation Supports (CPS) program, through the Department of Human Services and its Office of Developmental Program, requires individuals to spend 25% of the time in the community during the period when they are receiving services.

Some of the Wexford ATF participants spend 60% of their program time in the community, while others go out only 7% of the time. Individuals have the choice of whether or not to participate in any given activity, Criss explains.

“The State has wanted changes to day programs for a while,” Michelle Harper, site supervisor says. “Community integration is a huge part of the day program now.

“I can see the program growing to include more persons served with continued community integrations, I am lucky to have the staff that I have who are willing to work hard to make this program a success.”

Tagged in:
  • community
  • intellectual disabilities
  • intellectual disabilities services
  • Repurposed
  • Wexford Adult Training Facility
Share on:
  • In the News
  • News Releases
  • Social Media
  • Media Relations
  • Stories Of Hope
  • Annual Report
  • Credits

Categories

  • Art In Therapy
  • Employment
  • Family
  • Gratitude
  • Health & Well-Being
  • History
  • Independence
  • Lifesharing
  • Mindfulness
  • Mission
  • Recovery
  • Street Outreach
  • Therapeutic Gardening
  • Uncategorized
  • Veterans Services

Archives

Back to Top
Pittsburgh Mercy

A member of Trinity Health, serving
in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy

A Member of Trinity Health

Pittsburgh Mercy
1200 Reedsdale Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15233-2109
USA

Call 1-877-637-2924

Email info@pittsburghmercy.org

Contact Us Feedback

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Notice of Nondiscrimination & Accessibility Requirements
  • Notice of Privacy Practices
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • http://CARF%20Accredited

© 2023 Pittsburgh Mercy

Website by Imagebox