Beruflich Dokumente
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Beaver
Chapter 2
May 13, 2017
Working for Horizon House, Inc. running one of the Behavioral Health Services Mental
Health group homes, has its complexities. My setting is residential, upper class rural area. The
house across the street from our site recently sold for 1.4 million dollars. I serve participants
with a primary mental health diagnosis, but some are dually diagnosed (MH/IDD or MH/D &
A). We serve adults aged eighteen and up who are physically capable. We work with men and
The agency is mostly urban in setting, serving local individuals with mental illness, drug
and alcohol issues, or intellectual disabilities. Horizon House is spread throughout Pennsylvania,
in six counties, as well as all three counties in Delaware State. Some of the other programs serve
transitional age youth and the homeless. Each site receives funding from its County, and
therefore must answer to them. Our funding is complex, as it touches on the County, State, and
National level. The federal government cuts the State budgets, which trickle down to the
Policy work is important to the agency, as housing is a large portion of the work we do.
Housing First is an important program that Horizon House has that follows the philosophy to
house the person first, then provide voluntary supportive services as needed. Homelessness and
housing require a vast amount of advocacy, as the homeless population have few that will stand
for them. We make connections with other programs to gain the services the individual needs.
We partner with Open Hearth, who will pay the first month or security deposit for the individual.
The agency has associations with the local food banks and clothes closets to assist with these
basic needs.
Politically, Horizon House much like other Human Services agencies is affected by
political issues. With our current President, House, and Senate, the country is uncertain. The
threats of eliminating Medicaid, food stamps, as well as cutting Human Services budgets even
more loom over not only our agency, but all Human Services. The closing of the State Hospitals,
the lack of affordable care, and access to services has created a sense of fear. Group homes have
closed over the years, including the only other one in Chester County, PA. Lack of funding has
caused employee raises to become an uncertain event. Some years we get them, but some years
Hispanic non-English speaking participants, gay / lesbian participants, and Deaf participants.
Horizon House has needed to hire bilingual staff, increase sensitivity training by including a
LBGTQI training, and add ASL classes for staff. The agency is an inclusive place, where all are