Lakeshore Community Services Inc

Target demographics: Adults of all ages

Geographic areas served: Erie County, PA, Warren, PA and Dubois, PA

Programs:

Community Homes: Spacious, bright single-family homes in quiet neighborhoods have been the trademark of the core service offered by Lakeshore Community Services. The agency has its roots in quality care for individuals with intellectual disabilities in settings well-integrated in the local community.

Initiating its efforts with four homes in 1987, Lakeshore now offers supports in forty-two homes across multiple counties in Northwest Pennsylvania.

In Lakeshore homes, individuals can expect a residential and habilitative program that protects their dignity and health while affording the opportunity to develop new and fulfilling relationships. Lakeshore staff are focused on individuals' unique qualities and dreams as they assist each person to build competence and develop relationships in the community. Lakeshore homes are open to men and women of all ages.

Mental Health Services: LCS MH services include Blended Case Management, Mobile Medication Monitoring and Housing Support. We serve approximately 700 adults ages 18 and over who have serious and persistent mental illnesses.

All programs support individuals by providing flexible, racially, culturally appropriate, consumer directed services. The programs purpose is to allow individuals to succeed in his/her chosen environment, increase his/her independence and in turn maintain a sense of identity, dignity and self-esteem. Our goal is to walk with people through their process of recovery as they seek to achieve a high quality of life. Services are provided throughout Erie County from both our Erie and Corry offices.

Lifesharing: Our Lifesharing program was created to enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities, by matching a person in need with a participating family or individual. Lifesharing Providers open their home, sharing their love and friendship. Being welcomed into a family provides the individual in need a feeling of support, safety and belonging.

Personal needs and preferences are considered in the process, on behalf of the individual and the provider. Lifesharing Providers comply with program policy, procedures and regulation which allows for and creates a safe and healthy environment in which the individual in need has a feeling of inclusion. Providers also experience the benefits in the Lifesharing Program–the unique gifts and talents the individual brings to the home and a new friend and companion. Lifesharing, while making a positive difference, provides a stipend to the provider.

Supported Living: For some, the community can be an intimidating place. Negotiating the complexity of finding a suitable place to live, a meaningful job, or even enough to eat can be overwhelming. For these individuals, Lakeshore Community Services offers Supported Living. Our providers offer individuals with an intellectual disability the education and fortitude they need to negotiate with landlords, budget their money, or access available means of community assistance such as food stamps or medical care. We also help with day to day tasks like shopping, cooking and cleaning. Our main focus is placed on teaching the skills necessary for those we serve, to become more and more independent.

Individuals learn to call on our staff during periods of difficult transition or simply in need of a word of encouragement. Ever respectful of a person’s independence, providers in this program gear their availability to the needs of each individual they serve.

Life Skills: Not everyone gains a level of comfort in the daily routine of a sheltered workshop or an adult activities center. For those who might struggle in a structured environment, Lakeshore Community Services offers Life Skills, a community-based day program tailored to each individual’s needs. Our staff strives to focus on the interests of each person while developing a program of unique design. Individuals are encouraged to participate in the creation of their program by choosing from a wide range of recreational, volunteer, social, arts and crafts, and community activities. Local businesses like the animal shelter, Meals on Wheels, Salvation Army and the YMCA are a few of our participating partners.

Adult Training Facility (ATF): LCS offers Adult Training Facilities to individuals who have more specific needs in their daily lifestyle to better serve them. The ATF program provides a structured environment which works to address the unique needs of individuals with a great emphasis on developing daily living skills and prevocational development as well as providing occasions for social activities. Services are offered within our state-of-the-art ATF facility as well opportunities in the community.

Community Based Day Programs (CBDP): Community Based Day Program (CBDP) is offered by Lakeshore Community Services, Inc. to individuals who do not wish to participate in a traditional workshop setting yet need to enhance skills in social and/or daily living situations. We strive to involve consumers in the community through a variety of activities that will develop their social, emotional, and daily life skills. A full range of CBDP services are offered within the community.