News & Events
Upcoming Events
Walk for a Healthy Community Presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield - Saturday, June 6
The 4th Annual Walk for a Healthy Community presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is scheduled for Saturday, June 6 at Presque Isle State Park. This year’s walk benefits 25 local non-profit organizations, including EHCA! Lace up your sneakers and join our team. For more information visit www.walkforahealthycommunity.org or contact Bridget Hurt, EHCA Walk Coordinator, at 454-1534.
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A Four Star Program
The School Age Program has been thriving since February 2007 when it became a program managed solely by EHCA. The program offers inclusive after-school and summer day camp opportunities where children with or without disabilities interact and learn from each other in a caring and nurturing environment. School Age staff focus on goals such as building positive concepts, increasing degrees of independence, developing responsibility for self and others, learning to share and respect the rights of others and improving basic cognitive skills.
In April 2008, the School Age Program was awarded a Four Star rating from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare's Keystone Stars program. This state program is designed to help child care and group day care home providers to achieve tiered levels of quality designations. Keystone categorizes providers by using a one to four star rating system. Kudos to EHCA's School Age Program! For more information about the Keystone Stars program, visit www.dpw.state.pa.us or contact EHCA's School Age Program staff at 454-1534.
08-09 State Budget
It's that time of year again when the Pennsylvania State Budget is up for revision. EHCA is requesting your help in contacting your legislators to ask for their support of a COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) in the FY 08-09 State Budget.
Please access the PAR website at www.par.net. Once you’ve gotten into the PAR website, you will see a red block on the left side of the screen that brings up the MH/MR Coalition for the FY 08-09 funding request. This is the 3 page MH/MR Coalition FY 08-09 Funding Request that gives you complete information on why we are asking our legislators to support this request. Just below that, you will see a block with a green heading “PAR Action Alert”. Click on GO. From there you may submit an electronic form letter or personalize your own letter. Please help us help others by taking the time to make your voice heard.
Recent Events
2009 Spring Swing
The Eighth Annual Spring Swing took place on Friday, April 24, 2009 at Lake Shore Country Club. Over 200 guests enjoyed a fantastic evening of food, music, dancing, bidding and fun. Thank you to everyone who helped make Spring Swing 2009 a success!
2008 Employee Holiday Party
Employees and their guests enjoyed a night out at the Zem Zem Shrine Club on Friday, December 12. The excitement brought on by the 2008 Employee Holiday Party drew a large crowd to the event. In fact, nearly 200 people braved the wintery weather to come out for the party. The evening began at 6:00 p.m. with a social hour. Dinner and dancing followed with an array of prize giveaways throughout the night. Everyone had a great time.
Annual Fall Dinner
The Annual Fall Dinner took place on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at the Kakhwa Club. The evening was a continued success with over 100 people in attendance. The dinner celebrates EHCA by honoring the agency's volunteers and benefactors while featuring relevant speakers.
2008 Agency Picnic
Clients, staff, family and Board members alike graced the Red Carpet at the 2008 Agency Picnic on Thursday, September 4th. This year’s picnic, “Night at the Oscars: Where Everyone’s a Star!” featured movie theme performances, desserts and prizes. There was plenty of food, activity, entertainment and fun to be had by all. A sincere thanks to all ‘the stars’ who planned and participated in our stellar picnic.
2008 Art Exhibit
Creativity came alive during EHCA's Art Exhibit on Wednesday, August 20. The exhibit was on display from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Suite 90 of the Professional Building at 1611 Peach Street. The School-Age program hosted the exhibit, which showcased artwork from EHCA clients. Participants from the School-Age program served as guides and led guests around the exhibit while explaining some of the pieces. The artwork was beautiful and the presentation was great.
2008 Memorial Service
Family and friends gathered on Wednesday, August 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Memorial Garden for the 2008 Memorial Service. The Reverend Keith Sundberg led the service which recognized individuals served and staff at EHCA who have passed away during the year. Guests released live butterflies in the garden in memory or in honor of their loved ones.
Walk for a Healthy Community
EHCA was among the 20 non-profit local organizations that took part in the 3rd annual Walk for a Healthy Community presented by Blue Cross/Blue Shield on Saturday, June 14 at Presque Isle State Park. 100% of the money collected by the EHCA team will be used for the computerized Medication Administration System (MAR). This system provides a scheduling system which can be customized for each individual, and also has a prompting system that tracks and monitors the administration of each medication. Staff are prompted by the system when medications are due to be given. This MAR System will improve the safety of medication administration for the residents of Erie Homes for Children and Adults, Inc.
Partners in Dance VII: Modern Jazz Ain't No Cakewalk!
Dafmark Dance Theater and Erie Homes for Children and Adults presented the 7th Annual Partners in Dance performance on Thursday, May 29, 2008 at St. Ben's Community Center. The dance showcase featured a number of dancers from EHCA's MOVE program as well as several dancers from Dafmark. The dancers gave an outstanding performance and made Partners in Dance VII the best yet.