In honor of October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Lackawanna-Susquehanna BH/ ID/ EI Program presented Franks Place Restaurant in Simpson with the Advocate Honoree in recognition of their commitment to supporting and advancing employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Franks Place has been a starting point for employment for individuals with disabilities, and they have spent years championing the individuals with whom they work, providing positive opportunities, and resulting in successful employment. They employ several individuals with Autism and other developmental disabilities and create opportunities for skill development so individuals can eventually move on to gain employment with other businesses.

The Program is grateful to Frank & Kelly Cerminaro and their staff, who show great enthusiasm in supporting these individuals and are a model for other employers who have yet to recognize the great value in employing individuals with developmental disabilities.

 

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The Lackawanna-Susquehanna Behavioral Health / Intellectual Disabilities / Early Intervention (L-S BH/ID/EI) Program serves more than 13,000 individuals through various providers of behavioral health and intellectual disabilities services.

The program’s service area consists of two Northeastern Pennsylvania counties – Lackawanna and Susquehanna – which have a combined population of more than 255,000 residents.

The L-S BH/ID/EI Program was started in 1967 under provisions of the Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities Act passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature.

Each year, the L-S BH/ID/EI Program spends nearly $93 million in public funds to make sure the behavioral health and intellectual disabilities needs of its service area communities are met.

The program’s primary goal is to facilitate the inclusion and full participation of all persons with behavioral health and intellectual disability needs in their local community.  It organizes itself to proactively address the planning, development, procurement, management, and evaluation of services, thereby enhancing consumer satisfaction and positive personal outcomes.

The L-S BH/ID/EI Program assumes a leadership role in collaboration with individuals, families, advocates, providers and local government to ensure full participation of persons in their communities.