The Personal Support Network division of KenCrest Services was started in 1993 to provide home-based supports to adults; pre-school and school age children. All of the services provided by the Personal Support Network are developed with Person-Centered Planning in mind. The supported individual, along with family and friends, decide how, when, and by whom services are provided. Personal Support Specialists work with the Individual and the people important in his or her life to develop a unique support plan that focuses on helping to achieve dreams.

The Personal Support Network Serves:

• People in their homes and/or in the community
• Adults as well as Pre-school and School-age children
• People living with their families or on their own
• Serving Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, Philadelphia and Berks counties

The Personal Support Network Offers:

• Service in a caring, personalized manner 
•  Support through one-to-one guidance, coaching, and encouragement
• Support tailored to the unique needs and desires of the individual and his or her family.
• Assistance with expanding skills and enhancing quality of life
• Regular progress reviews
• Services provided by staff who are well-trained in the needs, personality and personal desires of each individual
• Comprehensive, quality staff training

The principles of Self-Determination and Personal Choice are put into action to deliver an individualized package of services. Our Services include:

Home and Community Habilitation Services

• Supporting personal outcomes of people as outlined in Individualized Service Plans.
• Assessing the personal needs for support by taking into account interests, relationships, dreams, abilities and life circumstances.
• Providing learning opportunities about safety at home and in the community.
• Teaching and enhancing an individual’s daily living skills as outlined in their Individualized Support Plans. These daily livings skills include activities such as:
• Being Active in the Community
• Managing Money/Making Purchases
• Relationship Building
• Maintaining Personal Hygiene
• Cooking Skills
• Maintaining their Households
• Volunteering
• Using Public Transportation
• Utilizing public resources and assistance programs.
• Monitoring and documenting individual progress and assessing changing needs.

Supported Living

People in our Supported Living Program may need additional support so that they can remain living on their own. Such support may include:

• Developing and assisting with personal financial skills.
• Assisting with personal health care including; arranging and attending medical appointments and communicating with health care insurance providers and medical professionals.
  

Respite Services

• Provide temporary relief to the individual's primary caregivers.
• Can last a couple of hours or a couple of days, depending on the person’s individual needs.

How to Access Services

Individual and Family Support Services through the Personal Support Network are available in Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, Philadelphia and Berks County. For more information about how to access individual and family support through the Personal Support Network contact your local county’s Supports Coordination Office.

Berks County of Pennsylvania Department of Mental Retardation Services

Bucks County of Pennsylvania Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation

Chester County Mental Health / Mental Retardation

Montgomery County of Pennsylvania Department of Mental Health/Mental Retardation/ Drug and Alcohol

City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Mental Retardation Services

For more information about the programs provided by the Personal Support Network contact:

Nancy Iannacone, Personal Support Network Director
(610) 825-9360 ext. 370
niannacone@kencrest.org

Margaret Rothenberger, Personal Support Network Assistant Director
mdriscoll@kencrest.org
(610) 825-9360 ext. 358

502 West Germantown Pike, Suite 600
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

Additional Resources:

Information for People Receiving Supports and their Families about the College of Direct Support:

The College of Direct Support is a web-based learning system that provides important information on many topics of significance to people with developmental disabilities and others in their lives. The College provides carefully designed training in many key areas, including:

• Safety at Home and in the Community
• Supporting Healthy Lives
• Individual Rights and Choices
• Community Inclusion
• Cultural Competence
• Person-Centered Planning and Supports
• Maltreatment of Vulnerable Adults and Children
  
  If you are a person receiving supports through your local Mental Retardation Office, or a family member of a person receiving supports, you can take all courses in the College of Direct Support free of charge. This is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. For more information, go to the website at: http://www.collegeofdirectsupport.com/pa/, or contact Sherri Graven (814-542-02501) cdssupport@tiu11.org.
  

Pennsylvania Office of Mental Retardation