Home & Community Services

Home and Community Services provides the following services to clients:

Special instruction
Specially designed instruction
Behavioral Heath Rehabilitative Services (BHRS)/Wraparound Services

Approach

Home and Community Services does not ascribe to one form of intervention or another. Clients are viewed holistically and general ABA principles are followed. The goal of Home and Community Services is to assess each client’s individual needs. Treatment and specialized programming are designed based on the client’s individual needs and are updated on an ongoing basis or as needed. Home and Community Services takes a treatment team approach, which includes parents, clinical staff, community supports and educators, etc.

Programs

Dependent on the funding source, Home and Community Services offers several types of service to meet the client’s individual needs. For example,

Behavior modification
Crisis intervention
Functional behavioral assessments
School consultation
Social skills training
Emotional support systems
Parent training
Specific ABA modalities based on the client’s individual needs

Staff

Many of our consultants and staff have degrees in applied behavioral analysis, special education, counseling, psychology, and related fields. Staff are highly motivated and dedicated professionals with extensive experience in Autism and other developmental delays.

All staff have Act 33/34 clearances

Behavioral Specialist Consultant (BSC)

Qualifications include, but not limited to minimum of master’s degree and applied behavioral analysis training
Provides behavioral treatment plans/consultation as stipulated by the Department of Public Welfare or plans/consultation related to specialized instruction when school district/IU funded

Therapeutic Staff Support (TSS)

Provided through BHRS
Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree
Via BHRS may only provide behavioral services as stipulated by Department of Public Welfare

Personal Care Assistant (PCA)

Generally school district/IU funded services
Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree unless otherwise specified
Provides behavioral health and specialized instruction services

Mobile Therapist (MT)

Qualifications include, but not limited to a minimum of a clinical master’s degree
Provides face-to-face psychotherapy

Case Management (CM)

Qualifications include, a master’s degree qualifying as a either a BSC or MT
Provides quality assurance and oversight on individual cases, including attention to case details such as staffing, training, and supervision

Training, Supervision, and Quality Management

Each TSS and PCA staff member receives 15 hours of intense training before being assigned a client. This training includes, but is not limited to:

Documentation and data collection
An overview of Autism spectrum disorders
An introduction to ABA techniques and behavioral management
Professional ethics and boundaries
Medications
Overview of job expectations and requirements
Treatment and behavioral planning
Introduction to the DSM IV-TR
Cultural diversity
Childhood development

Each TSS and PCA is required to complete a minimum of 43 hours of training within his or her first six months of hire. Each year thereafter he or she is required to complete a minimum of 20 hours of training. These trainings include, but are not limited to:

15 hour Autism training (within the first six months)

Crisis prevention intervention

Six hours in year one
Three hours each year thereafter

CPR/first aid

Autism interventions specific training dependent on their client's needs

Discrete trial
Verbal behavior
Floortime\DIR
PECS
Sign language
Social skills
Other trainings as needed

Corporate compliance as stipulated by the Bureau of Program Integrity

Each TSS and PCA is required to attend weekly supervision at one-hour per session. The BSC is also required to observe to each PCA and/or TSS onsite at least bi-weekly. To monitor the effectiveness of services, the BSC must sign off and review documentation in the office at least twice per month. The Case Manager reviews notes on a weekly basis for clinical content and quality assurance. Treatment team meetings take place as needed, however ongoing consultation is provided on a weekly or sometimes daily basis or as authorized.

BSC, MT and case managers attend ongoing training throughout the year, with a minimum of 10 hours required. This training includes any and all trainings listed for PCA and TSS staff, but also includes a four-hour training on the role of the BSC/MT. The role of the BSC/MT training includes in-depth treatment plan writing, effective team communication, topics and interventions related to Autism, and basic ABA principles. BSC and MT staff are required to attend minimally one-hour of supervision monthly. Case managers attend one hour of supervision weekly. Weekly updates and communication are expected.

Progress/change monitoring forms are required at the end of each treatment cycle and to ensure effective service planning. Additionally, consumer satisfaction forms are also sent out to team members including the parent or guardian to provide feedback and ensure quality assurance.

Contact Information

For additional information, please contact one of the sites listed below or e-mail Home & Community Services.

Chester County Office
CCIU Educational Service Center 455 Boot Road
Downingtown, PA 19335
Phone: 484-237-5296
Fax: 484-237-5167
Toll Free: 1-866-251-3001
TDD: 484-237-5528

Delaware County Office
Satellite Office at DCCC
85 N. Malin Road, Room 204
Broomall, PA 19008
Phone: 610-723-4011
Fax: 610-723-4023
Toll Free: 1-866-251-3001
TDD: 484-237-5528

Lancaster County Office
Satellite Office at Lancaster-Lebanon IU
1520 Commerce Drive
Lancaster, PA 17603
Phone: 717-560-5447
Fax: 717-569-7401
Toll Free: 1-866-251-3001
TDD: 484-237-5528