On Tuesday, March 23, students from the Pottstown and Norristown School Districts spent the day at two local area business host sites, learning what would be required of them if they were “on the job” as part of KenCrest’s annual Job Shadowing Day. The sites include Ikea of Conshohocken, and Frederick Mennonite Home.

KenCrest Services recently announced the appointment of Debbie Lord as Director of Support Services The announcement was made to KenCrest staff in late August and was made effective September 8, 2009. The announcement came as part of the strategic plan to successfully move KenCrest into the future.
Debbie has been with KenCrest for over 30 years. She has a Master of Arts in Speech Pathology from West Chester University. Debbie began working for KenCrest in 1979 as a speech therapist at River Crest, before being promoted to coordinator of Communication Services two years later. Her most recent role at KenCrest was Director of Clinical and Health Services. She has been a member of the KenCrest Leadership team for 9 years.
Through the last several years, Lord has developed the KenCrest Consultants school-based program at several area schools, including the EduCare program for students with autism, in collaboration with Saint Joseph's University and EmployNet. Debbie also assisted in the development of Mi-Stories™, short videos that teach children with autism how to communicate and behave in various community settings that will soon be available to buy on Amazon.com.
In Debbie’s new role, she will manage all KenCrest support programs such as resource management, quality, staff support, therapies, and nurses.

KenCrest Services recently announced the appointment of Joan Hanely as Director of Education and Training Services. The announcement was made to KenCrest staff in late August and was made effective September 8, 2009. The announcement came as part of the strategic plan to successfully move KenCrest into the future.
Joan has been with KenCrest for almost 17 years. After graduating with a Masters of Education in Special Education from West Chester, Joan joined KenCrest as a teacher. From there, she held several director roles before becoming the Director of Program Services for Birth to Three Early Intervention. Joan assisted in the growth into new counties and had much success in the reorganization of the Birth to Three Early Intervention Program.
In Joan’s new role, she will oversee the planning and departments of EmployNet, EduCare, Birth to Three Services, and KenCrest’s Consultants.
“I have a lot to learn, and I look forward to meeting with different staff. Everyone is passionate about their part of KenCrest, and I look forward to the opportunity to be a part of the programs I didn’t have the chance to work with before,” said Joan. 
 

Heritage Conservancy, an accredited, not-for-profit conservation organization that specializes in preserving our natural and historic heritage, was recently honored when five developmentally challenged adults and two dedicated staff members at KenCrest Services volunteered the “gift of their time” at the Conservancy’s preserved Aldie Mansion headquarters.

Close to 300 individuals served by KenCrest made their way to the Upper Moreland High School gymnasium on Saturday, May 30, to attend the agency’s annual prom. The event was made possible through a partnership with the high school and the Post-Prom Party Committee, who leave the themed decorations intact from the high school’s actual Prom the night before for people supported by KenCrest to enjoy as their own.

KenCrest has received a $7,500 grant from the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation to support the agency’s REACH (Resources and Education for Achieving Complete Health) project. REACH will serve approximately 360 people with developmental disabilities and their families at KenCrest’s Robinson Street location in Pottstown.

Despite rain showers and cloudy skies, over 125 neon green shirts stood out in Pottstown’s Riverfront Trail Park on Saturday, May 2 as families, staff, and adults who are served by KenCrest volunteered as a part of KenCrestCares at their second volunteer event. KenCrestCares raises awareness of providing quality services to people with disabilities through community service projects. The group picked Pottstown for their second event because of the large amount of people served by KenCrest in the area, including 16 group homes, and EmployNet. KenCrestCares cleaned up alongside other local groups from the area, including volunteers from Pottstown Parks and Recreation staff, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and students from Ursinus College.