Lackawanna County Suicide Prevention Alliance is opened to community stakeholders and the public. The meetings start at 5:00pm and members can either attend the meeting at the 911 center or via zoom.
2023 Meetings: March 14, 2023; May 9, 2023; July 11, 2023; September 12 2023; and November 14, 2023
If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact Jessica Chelik, Behavioral Health Coordinator/ Early Intervention Supervisor at chelikj@lsbhidei.org or 570-346-5741. Ext. 1562.
Susquehanna Suicide Awareness Initiative is also opened to the public. All meetings are held via zoom. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact Jessica Chelik, Behavioral Health Coordinator/ Early Intervention Supervisor at chelikj@lsbhidei.org or 570-346-5741. Ext. 1562.
Behavioral Program Updates
The County Program office was awarded three crisis grants, through the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (CMHSBG). The grants are for the creation of medical mobile crisis team services, crisis co-responder team and GPS dispatch technology. The medical mobile crisis team will be able to prescribe and/or administer medication to stabilize individuals who are having a mental health crisis. Crisis co-responder team will be a CIT trained police officer and a mental health crisis worker that will respond to mental health crisis calls. The goal is to decrease the interaction individuals with mental illness have with the criminal justice system and increase the delivery of crisis services in the community rather than hospital emergency departments. The GPS dispatch technology will offer the necessary technology to determine what service needs to be dispatched when a call comes in. The County Program is looking to enhance crisis services, avoid unnecessary hospital visits, decrease arrests, and follow best practices. Scranton Counseling Center will deliver the crisis services.
Scranton Counseling Center is in the process of developing a Crisis Receiving Stabilization Unit (CRSU) at their center on Cherry St., in Scranton. The anticipated opening date is end of April 2023.
The County Program Office received information related to funding received from the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS). The Program submitted a proposal to OMHSAS to access Community Hospital Integration Project (CHIP) funding to sustain our community mental health residential programs and supported housing programs. CHIP funds are provided to counties to close a state hospital bed and relocate a consumer at a state hospital to the community. Additional funding will be allocated to the program to ensure that individuals are well supported outside of institutional care. While this is not the optimum solution to our budget shortfalls, these additional funds will assist us in sustaining our mental health residential program until such time as we receive an increase to our primary allocation.
John Rosengrant from Scranton Counseling Center is developing a new program called Katie’s Place Clubhouse. Katie’s Place Clubhouse is governed by an international entity – Clubhouse International, with 300 Clubhouses in the world. 20 of these Clubhouses are within Pennsylvania.
Katie’s Place Clubhouse is a community of individuals who live with mental illness. The Clubhouse will be located on 247 Penn Avenue in downtown Scranton. Currently, the Club House activities are at Scranton Counseling Center.
Early Intervention Referrals
Friendship House- Upper Lackawanna and Susquehanna County. (Olyphant /Up the Valley)
Scranton Counseling Center- Lower Lackawanna County (Dickson City/ Down the Valley)
Early Intervention Contacts
Friendship House Mary Thorne B.S. Early Intervention-Service Coordination Supervisor Friendship House 1300 Old Plank Rd. Mayfield, PA 18433 Cell: (570)-904-9005 Fax: (855)-948-0980 |
Friendship House |
Scranton Counseling Center Kerri Orzechowski Early Intervention Program Director Scranton Counseling Center 329 Cherry Street Scranton PA 18505 570-348-6100 ext 3343 Fax: 570-207-1202 |
Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD)
IDD services are provided to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (including autism) and their families in their homes or in community settings.
Examples of services:
• Respite – provides relief to a caregiver
• Companion – provides supervision to an adult with a disability
• In-Home and Community Supports – assists with skill development/maintenance
• Residential supports, day options, employment, transportation, and more
Payment for services:
Services are funded by Federal Medicaid Waivers, state, and county dollars depending on availability of funds.
Eligibility:
Individuals 3 years of age and older residing in Lackawanna and Susquehanna Counties who meet all established criteria for one of the targeted groups below:
- Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
- Individuals with Autism
- Children under the age of 9 with a developmental disability
- Individuals under the age of 22 with complex medical conditions
Registering for Services:
The first step in the registration process is eligibility determination. The L-S BH/ID/EI Program contracts with the Advocacy Alliance’s Independent Eligibility Team (IET) to process intake and referrals for IDD Services. An IET coordinator will work with you on gathering documentation needed to establish eligibility and if necessary, assist with assessments and evaluations. Please contact the IET to begin this process.
- Advocacy Alliance – Independent Eligibility Team (IET)
1-877-315-6855
Selecting Supports Coordination Organization (SCO):
Once eligibility is established, individuals and their families have a choice of a Supports Coordination Organization (SCO). The primary role of SCOs is to locate, coordinate, and monitor service for the individuals registered with the county’s Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services program. Individuals and their families will be notified of qualified and willing SCOs via mail after the eligibility determination process has been completed by the IET.
Currently, there are three SCOs serving individuals residing in Lackawanna and Susquehanna counties:
- Service Access & Management, Inc.
201 Lackawanna Ave
Scranton, PA 18503
Contact: Andrew Hoppes
570-892-8782 - Tri-Valley Care, Inc.
1300 Old Plank Rd
Mayfield, PA 18433
Contact: April Roche
570-687-3602 - Quality Progressions
65 East Elizabeth
Bethlehem PA 18018
Contact: Keith Zielinski
610-691-91215
(will only accept referrals for individuals living near the Carbon, Monroe, Pike County border)
Additional IDD Contacts:
- PA Family Network
The Mission of the PA Family Network is to assist and empower people with disabilities and their families to seek quality and satisfaction in their lives as well as equal access to supports and services.
Contact: Francine Hogan
1-844-PA-Family (1-844-723-2645)
PaFamilyNetwork@visionforequality.org - Right to Education Task Force
The primary purpose of the Right to Education Task Force is to ensure that the intent and spirit of the Right to Education Consent Agreement is carried out. Membership of the Local Task Force is made up of Parents of children with special needs, School Officials, and Representatives serving school age children with special needs
Contact: Roseann Polishan
570-335-6772
The Department of Human Services (DHS) announced the launch of a statewide Support & Referral Helpline staffed by skilled and compassionate staff who will be available 24/7 to assist Pennsylvanians struggling with anxiety and other challenging emotions due to the COVID-19 emergency and refer them to community-based resources that can further help to meet individual needs. The toll-free, round-the-clock support line is officially operational. The number to call is 1-855-284-2494 For TTY, dial 724-631-5600
Suicide Prevention Alliance-Lackawanna County Resources
Mental Health, Anxiety and Stress
- Scranton Counseling Center 570-278-6822
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 Text HOME to 741741, All Hours Everyday
- The Advocacy Alliance, Warm Line 1-866-654-8114 6pm – 10pm Everyday
- Friendship House, Mayfield 570-281-6222, Scranton 570-342-8305
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990 or Text TALKWITH US to 66746, All Hours Everyday
- Veterans/Military Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255 press 1 or Text 838255, All Hours Everyday
- TrevorLifeline Saving LGBTQ Lives 1-866-488-7386 TrevorText Text START to 678678, All Hours Everyday
- Preserve PA Covid-19 Crisis Counseling Program 1-855-284-2494 For TTY, dial 724-631-5600
- Perseverar PA Programa De Asesoramiento En El Mrco De La Crisis Por La Covid-1-855-284-2494 For TTY, dial 724-631-5600
- NAMI, NEPA Support Groups
- Catholic Social Services 570-207-3808
- The Wright Center for Community Health 570-941-0630, 8am – 6pm, Monday through Friday
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Drug and Alcohol Issues
- Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service 570-961-1997, 8am – 5pm, Monday through Thursday, 8am – 4pm on Friday
- Lackawanna County Department of Human Services, Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs 570-963- 6820
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline 800-662-HELP (4357)
- National Drug Hotline 1-844-289-0879
Transportation
- COLTS (County of Lackawanna Transit System) 570-963-6482
Abuse
- Women’s Resource Center 570-278-1800 or 1-800-257-5765
- Childline 1-800-932-0313
- Adult Protective Services 1-800-490-8505
- Statewide Elder Abuse Hotline 1-800-490-8505