Allegheny County PA Family Resource Guide

FOREWORD
by Tina Calabro

I'll never forget the day the pediatrician told me that my four-month-old son Mark had cerebral palsy.

My husband Dave and I were not surprised by the diagnosis - Mark had had many serious health problems since birth. Even so, we were stunned by the confirmation and realized that our lives had changed forever.

In the trying weeks that followed, Dave and I began preparing a long-term healthcare plan for Mark. We wanted to know everything our community could provide for him - not just for Mark's infancy but for his future as a toddler, boy, and teenager.

What we didn't expect was the difficult, often confusing, and sometimes scary process involved in gathering information and advice.

Only after endless phone calls - collecting bits and pieces of information from social workers, agencies, and support groups - did we finally assemble the needed puzzle pieces.

This region is rich with resources for children with special needs, but the entire scope of these agencies, services, and benefits has never been available for parents in a single, comprehensive package.

What we needed then you now hold in your hands.

Thanks to The Information Collaborative, we parents can begin to see the big picture of what our community offers. Parents like myself have been involved in the book's creation and production, directing its content and making sure it reads in a user-friendly way. This guide also will help professionals become more knowledgeable about community resources - and give them a useful tool in their work with parents.

Knowledge is power. These are the words that have provided Dave and me with a sense of control as parents of a child with special needs. It is my pleasure to pass on this valuable resource to you - and to help empower you to give your child the best of everything.

Tina Calabro

PAGES xi, xii and xiii

Although many of the organizations in this book are based in Allegheny County, a number of providers serve all of Western Pennsylvania. The following are some of the major agencies in Southwestern Pennsylvania for residents outside of Allegheny County:

Armstrong County
The ARC........................................................................................................................................................ 724-548-3451

ARIN Intermediate Unit (IU 28)................................................................................................................... 800-272-2746
.................................................................................................................................................................. 724-463-5300

Children and Youth Agency........................................................................................................................ 724-548-3466

County Action Agency................................................................................................................................. 800-468-7771

County Assistance Office............................................................................................................................ 800-424-5235
.................................................................................................................................................................. 724-543-1651

Mental Health/Mental Retardation............................................................................................................. 724-548-3451

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation............................................................................................................ 800-442-6379

VNA (Visiting Nurses Association)............................................................................................................ 800-245-3042

Beaver County
The ARC........................................................................................................................................................ 724-775-1603

Children and Youth Agency........................................................................................................................ 724-775-4510

County Assistance Office............................................................................................................................ 724-773-7300

Lifesteps, Inc................................................................................................................................................. 724-774-6494

Mental Health/Mental Retardation............................................................................................................. 724-847-6225

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation............................................................................................................ 800-442-6379

Samaritan Counseling Center of Western PA......................................................................................... 724-775-4673

Volunteer Action Center of Beaver County, Inc....................................................................................... 724-728-3900

Butler County
The ARC........................................................................................................................................................ 724-282-1500

CHADD.......................................................................................................................................................... 412-735-2247

Children and Youth Agency........................................................................................................................ 724-284-5156

County Assistance Office............................................................................................................................ 724-284-8844

Mental Health Information, Referral, or Educational Advocacy............................................................. 724-287-1965

Mental Health/Mental Retardation............................................................................................................. 724-284-5114

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation............................................................................................................ 800-442-6379

Samaritan Counseling Center of Western PA......................................................................................... 724-287-2567

United Way.................................................................................................................................................... 724-287-3126

VNA (Visiting Nurses Association)............................................................................................................ 800-245-3042

Fayette County
The ARC........................................................................................................................................................ 724-483-4372

CHADD (Fay-West Area)............................................................................................................................ 724-439-9407

Children and Youth Agency........................................................................................................................ 724-430-1283

Community Action Agency.......................................................................................................................... 724-437-6050

County Assistance Office............................................................................................................................ 724-439-7015

Head Start...................................................................................................................................................... 724-430-4818

HelpLine........................................................................................................................................................ 800-427-INFO
.................................................................................................................................................................. 724-437-8888

Intermediate Unit 1 (IU 1)............................................................................................................................ 800-328-6481
.................................................................................................................................................................. 724-938-3241

Mental Health/Mental Retardation............................................................................................................. 724-430-1370

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation............................................................................................................ 800-442-6367

Open Doors for the Handicapped of PA, Inc............................................................................................ 724-437-7755

Greene County
The ARC........................................................................................................................................................ 724-627-5511

Children and Youth Agency........................................................................................................................ 724-852-5217

County Assistance Office............................................................................................................................ 724-627-8171

Head Start...................................................................................................................................................... 800-443-1943
.................................................................................................................................................................. 724-852-1943

HelpLine........................................................................................................................................................ 800-433-1943
.................................................................................................................................................................. 724-852-1943

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation............................................................................................................ 800-442-6367

Indiana County
ARIN Intermediate Unit (IU 28)................................................................................................................... 800-272-2746
.................................................................................................................................................................. 724-463-5300

Children and Youth Agency........................................................................................................................ 724-465-3895

County Assistance Office............................................................................................................................ 724-357-2900

Department of Human Services................................................................................................................. 724-463-8200

Lifesteps, Inc................................................................................................................................................. 724-349-1122

Mental Health Information, Referral, or Educational Advocacy............................................................. 724-465-7782

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation............................................................................................................ 800-762-4223

VNA (Visiting Nurses Association)............................................................................................................ 724-463-6340

Lawrence County
The ARC........................................................................................................................................................ 724-658-8515

CHADD.......................................................................................................................................................... 724-658-7591

Children and Youth Agency........................................................................................................................ 717-299-7925

Contact E.A.R.S............................................................................................................................................ 724-658-5520

County Assistance Office............................................................................................................................ 724-656-3000

Mental Health/Mental Retardation............................................................................................................. 724-658-2538

Children and Youth Agency........................................................................................................................ 724-228-6884

County Assistance Office............................................................................................................................ 800-835-9720
.................................................................................................................................................................. 724-223-4300

Head Start...................................................................................................................................................... 724-222-9100

HelpLine........................................................................................................................................................ 800-237-1555
.................................................................................................................................................................. 724-225-9052

Mental Health Information, Referral, or Educational Advocacy............................................................. 724-225-2061

Mental Health/Mental Retardation............................................................................................................. 724-228-6832

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation............................................................................................................ 800-442-6367

United Cerebral Palsy of Southwest PA................................................................................................... 724-225-8145

Westmoreland County
ARC-Westmoreland..................................................................................................................................... 724-837-8159

Case Management and Supports, Inc. (Early Intervention Assistance)............................................... 724-837-1808

CHADD.......................................................................................................................................................... 724-423-5644

Children and Youth Agency........................................................................................................................ 724-830-3300

County Assistance Office............................................................................................................................ 800-238-9094
.................................................................................................................................................................. 724-832-5200

Information and Referral, Helpline............................................................................................................. 800-222-8848

Intermediate Unit (IU 7) (Educational Services Preschool-21 Years).................................................. 724-836-2460

Irwin Down Syndrome Group..................................................................................................................... 724-864-9135

Mental Health/Mental Retardation............................................................................................................. 724-837-1808

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation............................................................................................................ 800-762-4223

One To One Citizen Advocacy................................................................................................................... 724-325-3344

Up with Downs Family Group Latrobe/Greensburg................................................................................ 724-539-2505

Call CONNECT Early Intervention HelpLine at 800-692-7288 for the phone numbers of more local, state, and national agencies that can help you.

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