Pressley Ridge has served Westmoreland County since the 1970s, starting with their Ohiopyle Wilderness Camp. Today, Pressley Ridge’s programs in the county include treatment foster care, community residential rehabilitation, autism services and community-based mental health services for individuals and families. Additionally, Pressley Ridge Day School Greensburg serves youth with emotional and behavioral problems.
Pressley Ridge was recently awarded $449,905 from The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County to expand their HELP Team model of mental health crisis response, which has successfully served Beaver County for 9 years.
The HELP Team is a mobile outreach program that responds when youth ages 8-24 and their families are in crisis. Members of the team include a team leader, two mobile crisis professionals and a recovery coach. The ultimate goals of the HELP team are to connect the youth and families to community-based resources and to reduce the number of youth being placed outside of the home, arrested, or hospitalized due to a mental health crisis.
Crisis referrals can come from provider agencies, the courts, child welfare, schools or self-referrals from families. When an inquiry is received, the Pressley Ridge HELP Team will respond by phone within one hour and with an in-person visit within 24 hours. Families can utilize the service without needing an established diagnosis or previous involvement with the behavioral health system, which are common barriers to access for many families.
As identified in a 2021-2023 needs assessment, improved mental health services are a priority health concern for residents in Westmoreland County, where the psychiatric hospitalization rate is higher than the state average.
“In a time when mental health issues are so prevalent amongst young people, we are grateful to The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County for allowing us offer these vital services to the families of Westmoreland County,” said Amy Fenn, Senior Director of Pressley Ridge.
The HELP Team will serve as a building block to a solid system of care for young people and their families in Westmoreland County. Pressley Ridge is currently hiring staff for the HELP Team and plans to begin taking referrals in Fall 2023.