Adult Crisis and Peer Support Programs Launch in Montco The Path

The Path We Take
I am a believer that each of us has our own journey in life. The
particular path we travel is influenced by our interests, skills, abilities
and the opportunities that God has given to us. Our collective diversity
allows us to accomplish things we could never do on our own. I am
blessed to know so many staff, associates, donors, vendors and
members of our communities who are willing to serve others. I am
honored to know you and am so thankful that our paths have crossed.
Some of you are with us for only a short time, others for a long time depending on how
your particular path bends and weaves. My hope is that your association with Access
Services will help you in your journey in life. It’s good to know that we have friends out
there with perhaps a deeper understanding and knowledge of our field and can use that
to make a positive impact in our world.
I want the thank each of you for your sacrifices and support over the years. It is certainly
not a coincidence that our paths have crossed.
Adult Crisis and Peer Support
Programs Launch in Montco
Access Services’ Adult Mobile Crisis Support program (AMCS) began on January 7 th, 2013 and
has quickly begun to make an impact. AMCS exists to help adults manage crisis as part of their
ongoing recovery and in so doing decrease the need for involuntary hospitalizations. Support
is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through Crisis Coordinators who provide initial
telephone counseling as well as face to face mobile support. Such support seeks to help
individuals stabilize and resolve their current crisis as well as plan for the future through the
use of recovery tools.
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At this point in time, AMCS is only being offered to those in the
Greater Norristown area. However, program expansion will be occurring in the coming months that will allow for crisis support to be
given throughout the rest of Montgomery County, PA. In order to
provide timely mobile support to those in all areas of the county,
our AMCS team is now working out of a new Plymouth Meeting
office. This site will provide a centralized location from which to
offer these needed services. If you or someone you know would
benefit from crisis support, the AMCS team may be contacted at no
charge at 1-855-634-4673 (634-HOPE).
“Thank you for listening to me.” “I feel better after talking to you.” “You really helped me to
calm down.” These are just some of the statements that our team of certified peer specialists
has been hearing from callers to the Peer Support Talk Line, which went live on (continued)
Don’t miss our 2nd Annual Fall Charity Event on Saturday, September 28th!
Visit www.accessservices.org/charityevent.
(continued) Wednesday, April 3. Callers have been finding that talking helps them to not feel so alone. In addition, callers have
stated that they appreciate the talk line because it provides them with a greater sense of support. The Peer Support Talk Line is
currently open from 3pm-7pm on Monday-Friday for Montgomery County adults who would benefit from telephone support. To speak with a Peer Support Specialist, please call 855-715-8255.
TIP Helps Young Adults Create Their Own Path
Access Services has partnered with Bucks County Department of Mental Health/Developmental Programs, Bucks County Behavioral
Health System, and Magellan Behavioral Health to provide the TIP program in Bucks County. TIP is an empirically supported model
developed to work with young people who are experiencing emotional and/or behavioral difficulties. TIP works to engage and
support young people ages 16-26 in their own futures-planning process across five transition domains; Educational Opportunities,
Living Situation, Employment and Career, Community Life Functioning, and Personal Effectiveness and Wellbeing. TIP is a
person-centered approach that focuses on instilling hope, providing non-stigmatizing and developmentally appropriate supports,
and empowering youth to become their own advocates.
Currently, TIP is provided in Bucks County to youth with Medical Assistance or who are
MA eligible. The youth will be matched with one of the TIP Facilitators who will support
between 9-12 youth at a time to ensure flexibility and availability. TIP also has a
Certified Peer Support Specialist who can provide additional support to youth in TIP.
Please contact Lisa Alessandroni at 1-888-442-1590 ext. 32 or
lalessandroni@accessservices.org for any additional information or to make a referral.
Who will speak for the people with disabilities?
Will your state legislator or your county commissioner? Will your neighbor, your co-worker, or the folks at your favorite local
grill? Will you?
At Access, we’ve found many people willing to tell the story of people with special needs. Some of them are our own clients and
staff, people who stood on the state capitol steps this past year and shared their personal stories. Some are local officials and the
media who, once they met the faces behind the statistics, made sure a larger audience became better
informed.
This coming year we know more voices need to be heard. We want to make sure they include the
voices of our clients, as well as the voices of our hardworking staff.
We’d like to hear your voice too. Join us in advocating for the services needed to
help people with disabilities become more integrated into their communities.
Volunteer in ways that help us manage expenses and serve more people with
special needs. And contribute financially so that people can be helped without
fear of budget cuts. Your voice is important—please help us speak with and for
people with disabilities.
To find out more about how you can help, visit our website at
www.accessservices.org
DONATE TODAY!