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Agency’s Demographic information:
KVOU Operates six 24-hour supervised residential homes for the
developmentally disabled located in the Vandergrift and Delmont
areas in Westmoreland County, Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Our referrals are provided through Westmoreland Case management
and Supports, Inc., 770 E. Pittsburgh Street, Greensburg, PA.
Number of years agency has been in operation:
KVOU has been in operation since 1972 providing services to
developmentally disabled adults.
The agency’s mission statement:
The Mission of Kiski Valley Opportunities Unlimited, Inc. is to
provide support for individuals with developmental disabilities
in their efforts to grow intellectually, spiritually, socially
and emotionally as members of the community. To accomplish
this, KVOU will provide a continuum of residential services.
The agency’s licensure/total budget:
KVOU provides residential services licensed by the Department of
Public Welfare’s Office of Developmental Disabilities. In
addition to the residential services, KVOU also provides Home
and Community Habilitation services to developmentally disabled
individuals who have established their own homes in the local
communities. In addition, the agency provides
transportation services to individuals in the community who need
transportation to Adult Training facilities in the area.
The agency’s budget for all programs is approximately 2 million
dollars annually to support individuals with developmental
disabilities.
Does the agency support people with
autism/characteristics of individuals supported:
KVOU provides support to people with developmental disabilities
to adults 18 years of age and older in addition to specific
mental health and medical needs. The age group of
individuals currently served is between 23 and 74. The
agency has a home that is accessible for non-ambulatory
individuals. Our agency has staff trained to support those
with dual mental health/mental retardation diagnosis. In
addition, the agency staff communicate with sign language to
deaf individuals or dually impaired blind/deaf individuals.
One of our homes is designed to support our blind individuals
with guide rails along the outside walkways. We support
people with feeding tubes and complex diet requirements
including diabetes or eating disorders like pica. The
agency presently supports individuals diagnosed with Autism. The
agency has provided support to individuals needing assistance in
the area of sexual abuse either as a victim or perpetrator.
The agency has supported individuals with physical aggression
including self-abusive behaviors and has been successful in
assisting the individual to reduce these behaviors.
Board Composition:
The Board of Directors is currently comprised of men and women
from the local community who are dedicated to those with special
needs. Some of our members have had family members will
developmental disabilities including some individuals served by
our agency. Numerous members have Special Education
degrees or background in the education. Other member’s
occupations include lawyer, bank branch manager, real estate,
human resource manager, and clergy.
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