The NICHCY State Resource Sheet for Pennsylvania 

This listing will help you locate organizations and 
agencies that address disability-related issues

this listing is courtesy of

P.O. Box 1492, Washington, DC 20013
1-800-695-0285
www.nichcy.org
you may find support information for other states in this website

Homelessness in Pa. - Where you can go for help

Medical Societies

GOVERNOR

STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: SPECIAL EDUCATION

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES:
AGES 3 THROUGH 5

PROGRAMS FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH DISABILITIES:
AGES BIRTH THROUGH 2

STATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCY

OFFICE OF STATE COORDINATOR OF VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

STATE MENTAL HEALTH AGENCY

Charles Curie, Deputy Secretary
Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Department of Public Welfare
Health & Welfare Bldg., Room 502
P.O. Box 2675
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2675
(717) 787-6443

STATE MENTAL HEALTH REPRESENTATIVE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Anita K. Thiemann, Director
Bureau of Consumer and Family Affairs
Beechmont Building, #32, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 2675
Harrisburg, PA 17105
(717) 772-7828

STATE MENTAL RETARDATION PROGRAM

Nancy R. Thaler, Deputy Secretary for Mental Retardation
Department of Public Welfare
Health & Welfare Bldg., Room 512
P.O. Box 2675
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2675
(717) 787-3700
E-mail: nthaler@pa.state.us

STATE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PLANNING COUNCIL

PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY AGENCY

Kevin Casey, Executive Director
PA Protection & Advocacy Inc.
1414 N. Cameron Street, Suite C
Harrisburg, PA 17103
(717) 236-8110; (800) 692-7443 (V/TTY, in PA)
E-mail: ppa@ppainc.org

CLIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS

STATE AGENCY FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

Debra Scott, Director
Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
909 Green Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
(717) 783-4912 (V/TTY)
(800) 233-3008 (V/TTY, in PA only)
E-mail: doscott@dli.state.pa.us

Janet Sloand Armstrong
PA Deaf-Blind Project
6340 Flank Drive, Suite 600
Harrisburg, PA 17112-2793
(717) 541-4960; (800) 360-7282 (in PA only)
E-mail: jarmstrong@pattan.k12.pa.us
Web: www.pattan.k12.pa.us

STATE EDUCATION AGENCY RURAL REPRESENTATIVE

REGIONAL ADA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AGENCY

DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS

National Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA)
1788 Second Street, Suite 200
Highland Park, IL 60035
(847) 432-2332
E-mail: mail@add.org
Web: www.add.org

Autism
To identify an autism group in your state, contact:
Autism Society of America
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 657-0881; (800) 3-AUTISM
Web: www.autism-society.org

Cerebral Palsy
United Cerebral Palsy of PA
1902 Market Street
Camp Hill, PA 17011
(717) 761-6129; (717) 761-6950 (TTY)
E-mail: ucpofpa@ucpofpa.com
Web: www.ucpofpa.org

Epilepsy
Judy Painter, Executive Director
Epilepsy Foundation of Western PA
Vocational Rehabiliation Center
1323 Forbes Avenue, Suite 102
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 261-5880; (800) 361-5885
E-mail: staff@efwp.org
Web: www.efwp.org

Jeanette K. Chelius, Executive Director
Epilepsy Foundation of Southeastern Pennsylvania
Seven Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1208
(215) 523-9180; (800) 887-7165 (in PA)
E-mail: efsepa@efsepa.org
Web: www.efsepa.org

Learning Disabilities
Debbie Rodes, President
Learning Disabilities Association of PA
P.O. Box 208, Toomey Bldg.
Uwchland, PA 19480
(610) 458-8193

Mental Health
Al Froy, Executive Director
NAMI PA
2149 North Second Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
(717) 238-1514; (800) 223-0500
E-mail: nami-pa@nami.org
Web: namipa.nami.org/namipa/

Glenda Fine, Director
Parents Involved Network of PA (PIN of PA)
1211 Chestnut Street, 11th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 751-1800; (800) 688-4226
E-mail: pin@mhasp.org
Web: www.pinofpa.org

Mental Retardation
Martie Worley, Executive Director
The Arc of Pennsylvania
2001 N. Front, Building 2, Suite 221
Harrisburg, PA 17102-2104
(717) 234-2621
E-mail: thearcpa@usa.net

Speech and Hearing
Robert Craven, Business Manager
PA Speech-Language-Hearing Association
800 Perry Highway, Suite 3
Pittsburgh, PA 15229-1128
(412) 366-9858
E-mail: keystater@aol.com
Web: www.psha.org

Spina Bifida
Patricia Fulvio, Executive Director
Spina Bifida Association
209 E. State St, Suite B
Quarryville, PA 17566-1242
(717) 786-9280; (888) 770-SBPA (In PA)
E-mail: SBAofLC@aol.com
Web: www.sbaoflc.homepage.com

Tourette Syndrome
Mary Lou Reaver, Executive Director
Pennsylvania Tourette Syndrome Association
132 West Middle Street
Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 337-1134; (800) 990-3300 (in PA)
E-mail: mlrpatsa@cvn.net
Web: www.patourettesyndrome.org

Visual Impairments
Regina Genwright, Director of Information Center
American Foundation for the Blind
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
(202) 502-7600; (212) 502-7662 (TTY)
E-mail: afbinfo@afb.org
Web: www.afb.org

UNIVERSITY AFFILIATED PROGRAM

Diane Nelson Bryen, Director
Institute on Disabilities - UAP
Temple University, Ritter Annex, Room 423
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 204-1356 (V/TTY)
E-mail: dianeb@astro.ocis.temple.edu
Web: www.temple.edu/inst_disabilities

James Coplan, Director, UAP/LEND
Children's Seashore House of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
3405 Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4388
(215) 590-7466
E-mail: coplan@email.CHOP.edu

TECHNOLOGY-RELATED ASSISTANCE

PARENT TRAINING AND INFORMATION PROJECTS

PARENT-TO-PARENT

PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA)

OTHER DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS

AGE OF ELIGIBILITY

Each state sets eligibility ages for services to children and youth with disabilities. For current information concerning this state, please contact the office listed under STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: SPECIAL EDUCATION.

SCRANTON

St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen

St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen is a soup kitchen that serves lunch to homeless people and others in need. St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen's home page provides a description of their services and information on how you can become involved with their efforts.

500 Penn Ave.
Scranton, PA 18509
Phone: 717-342-5556
Fax: 717-963-8832

Pennsylvania Department of Education -- Education 
of Homeless Children and Youth Program

Describes Pennsylvania's laws and statewide program for 
the education of homeless children and youth.

CENTRAL SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY

Haven Ministry Inc.

Haven Ministry Inc. is an ecumenical, nonprofit organization providing emergency shelter, food, referral help, and life skills education to homeless families and individuals in the Central Susquehanna Valley area. Emergency food is also provided for the near-homeless population. Transitional (bridge) housing program also offered.

1043 South Front Street R R 3
Box 1-A-1 Sunbury, PA 17801
Phone: 570-286-1672
Fax: 570-286-3065
Email: cathyshn@ptdprolog.net

ERIE

The Community of Caring

The Community of Caring is a temporary emergency shelter serving 
Erie County. The Community of Caring provides connections with 
the homeless case management team at the base service unit 
with case management support services. There is also referral 
for Mental health treatment, Health care and Housing contacts.

245 East 8th St
Erie, PA 16503-1003
Phone: 814-456-6661
Email: caring@velocity.net

PHILADELPHIA

The Employment Project

The Employment Project is a nonprofit employment service for homeless and disadvantaged people in Philadelphia, PA. It was founded by homeless people from the Committee for Dignity and Fairness for the Homeless shelter and student volunteers from the Eight Dimension program at Haverford College. The project offers an employability skills training program that operates in a 4-8 week cycle. The Employment project serves over 2,500 clients annually.

Contact: Leona Smith
246 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: 215-923-1694
Fax: 215-923-5960
Email: Lenci1@aol.com

Housing Association of Delaware Valley

The Housing Association of Delaware Valley (HADV) is a non-profit, United Way agency whose broad purpose is to positively affect the living conditions of low and moderate income families in the Delaware Valley. The Association advocates for decent housing for all and to eliminate racism and discrimination in all housing. To accomplish these goals, HADV acts as a watchdog of government programs and policies, advocates for housing alternatives for low and moderate income citizens, conducts research on a wide variety of housing issues, engages in educational activities, and provides technical assistance to organizations. The Association also operates programs to assist low income families gain and retain decent affordable housing.

1500 Walnut Street, Suite 601
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Anthony Lewis, Managing Director
Phone: 215-545-6010
Fax: 215-790-9132
Email: hadv@libertynet.org

Project H.O.M.E.

The mission of Project H.O.M.E. is to work in partnership with chronically homeless persons in Philadelphia as they strive to attain their fullest 
potential as individuals and as members of the broader society.

1515 Fairmount Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Phone: (215) 232-7272
Email: HN5672@handsnet.org or prjhome@aol.com

PITTSBURGH

HSP

HSP helps to bring food, clothing, blankets and medical staff 
to homeless persons in Pittsburgh, PA. HSP's primary outreach 
tool is via sea kayak along Pittsburgh's rivers.

Director: Mike Sallows
3017 Cohutta Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Phone: 412-761-6497
Email: homeless@nb.net

Operation Safety Net

Operation Safety Net is a medical outreach service consisting of 
volunteers who deliver medical, mental health and drug and alcohol services to the street homeless population in the greater Pittsburgh area. 
Medical, nursing and student volunteers, in partnership with the 
homeless community, walk the streets, alleys and riverbanks to 
search the homeless, build friendships and deliver professional 
care. This award winning program is being duplicated in other cities 
and is an educational model for medical trainees who have demonstrated leadership in care for the poor and other vulnerable populations. Coordination with other homeless providers includes a custom designed case record and tracking system known as SAFENET. Operation Safety Net also provides employment opportunities to the street homeless population.

Mercy Hospital
1400 Locust Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 412-232-5739
Fax: 412-232-3726
Email: jwithers@mercy.pmhs.org
lsheets@mercy.pmhs.org
Medical Director: James S. Withers, M.D.
Program Administrator: Linda M. Sheets, M.P.M.

YORK

Helping Hand for the Homeless, Inc.

The Helping Hand for the Homeless was established in 1989 to serve homeless people in York County, Pennsylvania. Helping Hand provides hot meals, sleeping bags, clothing, hygiene kits, and access to temporary day work.

413 W. King Street
York, PA 17404
Phone: 717-846-9275
Email: kemp@cyberia.com

Resources for families and children

support for the elderly

Medical Societies and Support

National Stroke Association		Women's Health  Initiative
U.S National Library of Medicine	National Heart Lung Blood Institute)
		La Leche League International
Sidelines (support group for women with complicated pregnancies)		NIH osteoporosis and related bone diseases

Health and Wellness Resources

Natural Healing for you, your family and pets

Health Books and Healing Music