Elizabeth Stoner

This story was originally published on TribLive.com

Deer Lakes School District officials said it made sense for them to partner with Wesley Family Services to offer Alle­gheny County’s only public school-based partial hospital program for students with severe mental health and psychological issues.

The program had been based in Highlands School District for more than a decade, but stopped operating there after last school year when the district closed the Highlands Support Center in Fawn. It moved to Deer Lakes in July.

“We had a lot of students in the Highlands program, so we were paying the transportation there,” said Deer Lakes Assistant Superintendent Bobbi-Ann Barnes. “It just made sense for us to be able to house it here.”

There are 12 students in the program, now based on the second floor of Deer Lakes High School. It can accommodate as many as 25 students, officials said.

The program provides mental health treatment, weekly psychiatric monitoring and schooling for K-12 students with conditions such as anxiety, depression or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD.

“These are for the most severe cases,” Deer Lakes spokesman Jim Cromie said.

The program is open to students from districts in surrounding counties and communities, not just Deer Lakes. In addition to Deer Lakes’ six students, three are from Highlands, while Allegheny Valley, Kiski Area and New Kensington-Arnold each have one student in the program.

The students are referred from their home school district or mental health professionals. They stay for an average of six to nine months before going back to a regular classroom.

The program is offered year-round because “mental health doesn’t go away in the summer,” said program manager Amanda Cooper.

Students are taught by Deer Lakes teachers and aides. They’re broken up into two classrooms categorized by age.

There is also a sensory room containing anxiety-reducing items such as yoga balls, weighted blankets and a giant teddy bear, along with a quiet room where students can go when they are feeling overwhelmed.

“Sometimes you just need to come and sit and have space to yourself,” Cooper said.

Students get three hours of academic instruction and three hours of group therapy a day. They also receive weekly individual and family therapy.

The program has a separate entrance and exit at the high school, and runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on school days.

To learn more, visit http://www.deerlakes.net/WesleyFamilyServices.aspx

Recently, we spoke with Jill Martin, who is the mom of Luke Martin, a child that’s enrolled in our Creative Arts program. Luke is 10 years old and is on the autism spectrum. We wanted to talk with Jill and hear a parent’s take on our recital.

Question: Why did you choose to enroll your son in the Creative Arts program at Wesley Family Services?

Answer: I found out about the Creative Arts program through one of the aides who was working with Luke at his school. She said I had to meet the program’s supervisor, Katie Harrill, because she has a gift and a way with kids. And, she was right. I enrolled Luke back in 2014, nearly 5 years ago, and I’ve been blown away with the progress he was able to make almost right away and since then.

Question: Did Luke participate in the Music of the Heart Recital his first year in the program?

Answer:  Yes, he did and honestly, I was unsure about him being able to do it. I didn’t know if he was capable of standing up there and performing in front of everyone. I also didn’t know what the recital entailed. It’s been so fulfilling as a parent to see him progress year after year. Katie rehearses with all of the kids, and they practice their song or whatever they are going to perform. That gives them confidence ahead of time to be able to stand up there, and the recital is so much fun!

Question: Where you apprehensive at all to let Luke perform?

Answer: I was actually. I was afraid it might be too overly stimulating for Luke. I didn’t know if he could handle it, if he would know what to do and when to do it.

Question: What’s the best thing about the recital as a parent?

Answer: To attend a music recital where my child is able to perform. Everyone in that room is so encouraging to all of the kids and teenagers that are in the program. It’s such a welcoming environment and very touching to see everyone in one room enjoying them. While the kids perform on stage, people and kids can be wandering around the room, talking, laughing—they can be themselves and feel relaxed. For some kids, they cannot sit there for more than a few seconds or minutes, and so to have an environment that’s completely casual, and no one thinks twice if there is a noise disruption, is wonderful. Also, the kids are so talented. It’s incredible to watch some of them sing, dance, or play an instrument. Wesley meets them where they are and then works with them on an individual basis to meet goals and milestones. It’s really quite amazing!

Question: Do you think the setup of the recital is helpful?

Answer: Absolutely! With everyone walking around and moving freely, it helps to remove expectations. People are comfortable, friendly, some are loud. There is no pressure on anyone.

Question: Is there anything you and your family do to help prep Luke for the recital?

Answer: Luke will perform his song at home for us, he enjoys singing and rehearsing. But, we don’t have to devote a lot of time for rehearsing. Katie and the other Creative Arts staff do that with Luke.

Question: Is there anything you do as a family to celebrate after Luke performs?

Answer: Yes, we do! Some of our family members have come to watch him sing. Often, we’ll go out afterwards to dinner or to get a treat. We want to celebrate what a great job he does!

Question: Do you have any advice for parents who are thinking about enrolling their kids in the Creative Arts program and having them participate in the recital?

Answer: Yes, I would tell them not to underestimate their child and the progress that he or she could make. Don’t let your fears about what you think they are capable or not capable of hold them back. Katie and everyone at Wesley will work with them to set them up for success at the recital. Music therapy has made such a wonderful difference in Luke’s life and our whole family’s life. I would tell any parent to try it.

This story was originally published on TribLive.com

An $18.2 million apartment and office building under construction in New Kensington is the latest example of the city’s revitalization, Mayor Tom Guzzo said at a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Wesley Family Services project Thursday.

Work on Pioneer Apartments, a four-story building that will house 36 apartments and offices for more than 100 people, was paused while officials and dignitaries gave their remarks.

New Kensington donated the former parking lot, between 10th and 11th streets and Fourth Avenue and Cherry Alley, where the building is going up.

“This is really a great day for the city of New Kensington. In every corner, you can see progress happening right before your eyes,” Guzzo said. “Our revitalization has been taking positive and forward steps with a variety of businesses.”

That includes the Penn State Corridor of Innovation, the Knead Cafe and the Voodoo Brewery, “and all of the great things happening with our existing businesses,” Guzzo said.

Work on Pioneer Apartments started in June. It’s expected to be ready for occupancy by late spring or early summer 2020.

It will include one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Several units will be outfitted to accommodate those who have mobility, hearing and vision disabilities or needs.

Rents, based on a percentage of average median income in New Kensington, will range between $200 and $800, said Stephen Christian-Michaels, chief strategy officer for Wesley Family Services.

A nonprofit formed in July 2017 from the merger of Wesley Spectrum and Family Services of Western Pennsylvania, Wesley Family Services provides behavioral healthcare services and support programs to children, adults and families. It has more than 60 programs in the areas of behavioral health, intellectual and development disabilities, community empowerment, aging, specialized education, and family support and preservation.

At Pioneer Apartments, Wesley Family Services will offer programs and services to the building’s residents and local residents.

“The services they provide are vital to our community and to the communities that surround us,” Guzzo said. “The office staff and administration will have their offices here, bringing over 100 people to our downtown every day.”

Providing affordable housing empowers people, Wesley Family Services CEO Doug Muetzel said.

“We know that affordable housing is a key barrier to people reaching their hopes and dreams,” he said.

Pioneer Apartments is funded largely through two tax credit programs — new market tax credits from the Corporation for Supportive Housing and low income housing tax credits through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Authority. It also received grant funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, as well as a no-interest loan from the housing finance authority.

The masonry block for the building’s outer perimeter is 80% finished, said Gary Kirk, a superintendent with Mistick Construction. Block masonry towers for the building’s three stairways and two elevator shafts should be up by the end of next week, and the building’s framing will start going up in mid to late September, Kirk said.

The heavy rain this year often turned the construction site into a swamp, and some bad soil that could not support the building’s weight had to be removed and replaced, Kirk said. The project was slightly behind schedule, but, “the last two weeks have really helped out,” he said.

“We’re having fun,” Kirk said. “People in the area have been very nice. They seem to be encouraged by the activity.”

Wesley Family Services, New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo, and members of the local community celebrated today at the groundbreaking for Pioneer Apartments, an integrated development that will be home to a four-story apartment building and offices.

“For many of us, this project has been a labor of love and we are thrilled to be a part of the economic revitalization that Mayor Guzzo is spearheading,” Stephen Christian-Michaels, Chief Strategy Officer of Wesley Family Services said during today’s groundbreaking ceremony. “Our organization is committed to providing transformational care, and this integrated development will do just that. We will be offering affordable housing units as well as support services—all in one location. By helping to reduce the burden of accessibility, we’re confident that many local individuals and families will benefit from this development.”

The apartment building will have 36 one bedroom, two bedroom, and three bedroom units to meet the needs of both individuals and families. Several of the units will have mobility and hearing/visual accessibility in order to accommodate those who may have a disability or special need. It’s being built on the site of a former parking lot, between 10th and 11th Streets and Fourth Avenue and Cherry Alley. On the first and second floors of the building, Wesley Family Services will offer a variety of programs and services that will be available to residents and members of the local community. More than 100 of the organization’s behavioral health and autism therapeutic staff members will work out of this location.

Mayor Tom Guzzo was the emcee for the groundbreaking ceremony and has long been a supporter of the development.

“We are happy that Wesley Family Services chose to put Pioneer Apartments in our city,” Guzzo said. “I am focused on economic revitalization for New Kensington and Pioneer Apartments is a big investment. Not only will many residents and families in our area be able to benefit from this, but this project will generate tax revenue for us.”

Along with Mayor Guzzo, State Senator Jim Brewster, Westmoreland County Commissioner Ted Kopas and representatives from Congressman Guy Reschenthaler and State Representative Frank Dermody’s office were in attendance at the ceremony. Additionally, representatives from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Authority, US Dept of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Richard King Mellon Foundation, Redevelopment Authority of New Kensington and the Westmoreland Community Foundation were on hand to show their support.

“The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency is proud to be a funding partner for the construction of Pioneer Apartments,” said PHFA Executive Director and CEO Brian A. Hudson Sr. “This new development will provide much needed accessible and affordable housing for people in New Kensington. The provision of housing services in the same building with behavioral health services will be a big help for residents in the apartments.”

Wesley Family Services also received a tremendous amount of support for Pioneer Apartments from the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH).

“CSH invested so heavily in the new Behavioral Health Center because we are convinced it will spur economic growth and result in better care being delivered in the community,” said Deborah De Santis, President and CEO of CSH. “Beyond the positive economic and health impacts for all of New Kensington, we are enthusiastically embracing the strong emphasis Wesley Family Services is placing on providing our youth with greater access to more innovative mental health services, and their goal to elevate the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

This development which is expected to cost $18.2 million is being funded largely through two tax credit programs: New Market Tax Credits from the Corporation for Supportive Housing and Low Income Housing Tax Credits allocated by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Authority (PHFA). The organization also received grant funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, as well as a no-interest loan from PHFA.

Construction on Pioneer Apartments officially started in June when the organization closed on the property. After the groundbreaking ceremony, attendees were given tours of the site and they are able to see firsthand how construction is progressing. The development is expected to be open by July 2020.

This story was originally published on TribLive.com. 

When a heat wave began to settle over the region like a damp wool blanket Saturday morning, Westmoreland County residents turned to time-honored escape routes to beat the heat.

Pools, lakes and ice cream stands all benefited as the National Weather Service charted the heat index — a combination of the outside temperature with humidity levels factored in — as it climbed to 99 and then 100 across the region.

Despite, or perhaps because of several days of warnings that such temperatures could pose the threat of heat stroke, emergency dispatchers in Westmoreland and Fayette counties said they had no heat-related calls. Supervisors at Excela Westmoreland and Latrobe hospitals echoed their comments.

Experts at the National Weather Service office in Moon recommended continued caution late Saturday, tweeting “hydrate, check on the elderly, check on pets and always #LookBeforeYouLock.”

The same heat that drove many inside to air conditioned comfort drove others to events like the 24th annual Parentwise Ice Cream Blast at the Nevin Arena in Greensburg.

Julie Cawoski couldn’t have been happier.

Cawoski smiled as family after family trooped into Greensburg’s Nevin Arena on Saturday afternoon for the event that benefits the Parentwise program of Wesley Family Services. Cawoski was the event’s director.

The event, a festival that features an afternoon of entertainment by local youth groups, as well as balloon sculptures, a miniature horse and a caricature artist among others, challenges ice cream lovers to sample an array of the cold creamy stuff and then stuff the ballot box for their favorite.

It typically attracts about 800 people.

“I think the weather is driving more of them our way this year,” Cawoski said, scanning the massive arena.

Five-year-old Hudson Neary, who attended with his grandmother, Joyce Neary, of Greensburg, smiled shyly as he dug into a cup of M&M studded ice cream.

Nearby, Chase Marco, 13, of Derry, gave an enthusiastic thumbs up for Oreo cookie ice cream.

For others, water was the draw of the day.

The cool lake at Keystone State Park was a perfect anecdote to the heat for first-time visitors Lea Kleesies and her neighbor Donna Purtell, of Murrysville. The women packed up their four children and headed to the lake to get an early start on the day.

“It’s a hidden gem. It was a perfect getaway for a day like today, “ Purtell said as Kleesies adjusted the water wings on her 4-year-old son, Luke.

Susan Marcone, 58, of Monroeville said she has been trekking to the lake as long as she can remember. She arrived prepared for the day, totting an umbrella, beach chair, floating chaise and a Yeti cooler full of goodies.

“We’ve been coming here since we were kids,” she said. “It’s my favorite way to relax.”

Others opted to beat the heat closer to home. Caitlin Spacht, of Greensburg, said the spray deck at Veterans Memorial Pool was the perfect fit for her son, Maddox. The toddler, who recently celebrated his first birthday, giggled wildly as he teased at the sprays that provided a cool respite from the afternoon sun.

Who says you can’t beat the heat?

There are many transport assistance programs available in Allegheny County. In fact for many people, the real challenge isn’t finding a service — it’s navigating the many options and their accompanying rules and regulations to actually get a ride.

That can be especially daunting for the older and disabled commuters who rely on these programs most.

To help close the transit gap, The Port Authority has teamed up with the advocacy group Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh to create A to B, an online portal that connects county residents with the more than 20 different transport providers across the region.

“A to B offers freedom, opportunity and access, regardless of age or ability,” said Port Authority CEO Katharine Kelleman in an announcement about the program. “So riders can determine for themselves the best transportation option that meets their unique mobility needs.”

Users begin by filling out a 10-minute survey with basic information such as age, insurance coverage and general internet literacy. From there, they receive a list of programs and providers based on their needs and preferences.

The service was designed in collaboration with a range of regional stakeholders, including the County Health Department, Wesley Family Services, the City of Pittsburgh and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Age-Friendly, which is supported by the Mary Hillman Jennings Foundation, advocates a wide range of public policies aimed at supporting and enhancing the lives of our region’s aging residents.

In the next two decades, the number of residents over age 65 in our region is projected to increase by 40 percent, making programs like A to B a necessity.

“The ability to have diverse and easily accessible transportation options is important for Allegheny County residents of all ages and abilities,” said Laura Poskin, director of Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh. “This is one way of connecting riders with resources to get them where they need to go.”

Read the full article on nextpittsburgh.com.

Wesley Family Services is a member of Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh.