The Community Living Program is Supported Living for adults with mental illness in the Venango County area. It is designed to help individuals choose, get and keep the living arrangement of their choice, while learning to live as independently as possible.
The Community Living Program utilizes a Community Living Specialist, who helps individuals plan, prepare, problem-solve, and move to living arrangements which allow for the greatest level of independence and satisfaction. This program offers support and skills teaching in the individual’s home and community, and connects individuals to resources in the community.
Sample skills that might be taught include finances and budgeting, medication management, cleaning, laundry, being a good neighbor, relationships, managing and attending medical and mental health appointments, anger management, meal planning, shopping, meal preparation, developing a healthy sleep schedule, setting priorities, riding the bus or other transportation, understanding and managing mental or physical illness, job readiness skills, job hunting, making and keeping friends, and finding clubs or churches of interest.
This program was designed to help in the following areas:
- Adults with serious mental illness returning to the community from a long term hospitalization in a state hospital or other long term facility.
- Adults with a mental health diagnosis who would like to try a more independent living environment, but they still need lots of in-home support.
- Adults who have had difficulty keeping apartments or houses in the past and need skills and supports to make a fresh start.
- Transitional age (18-24 year olds) who are learning skills to live independently, possibly their first time leaving home, and need in-home support.
Referrals for the program come through Service Coordinators/Case Managers from Venango County Human Services.