Department of Human Services Visits Auberle Family Healing Center to Discuss Family-Centered Care, Supports for Substance Use Treatment

Pittsburgh, PA - Department of Human Services (DHS) Acting Secretary Meg Snead today visited Auberle Family Healing Center and met with community organizations and stakeholders to talk about the importance of person-centered care, expanding housing and tenancy-related supports funded by Medical Assistance, and enabling families to stay together while a parent undergoes substance use treatment.

"When a parent is undergoing treatment for substance use, they can be separated from their children, and the family is not given the chance to heal and move forward in recovery together," said Acting Secretary Snead. "The Family Healing Center will allow a family to stay together and receive the help and services they need to be successful after they leave. This is a great example of meeting people where they are and providing individuals and families what they need as opposed to trying to fit them into a system of care that may not be tailored to them or easy for them to access. Housing is essential in whole-person care."

The first of its kind in the country, when open, the Center will provide transitional housing combined with on-site substance use and mental health treatment, to care for families and reduce separation of parents and children while parents are undergoing treatment. DHS is a participant in the National Academy of State Health Policy Health and Housing Institute and seeks to address social determinants of health including housing through data-informed practices and cross-sector collaborations, including working with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to pursue housing and tenancy services and supports that can be covered through Medical Assistance.

In addition to a full regimen of counseling for the caregiver struggling with addiction, there will be training available on parenting, financial literacy, cooking and nutrition, wellness, and a host of support services for the entire family. Children will have access to tutoring, mental health services, recreation activities, enrichment programs, and other services. Children's Hospital will do medical exams of the children and make appropriate connections to community healthcare providers.

"The likelihood of success in recovery is greater if there is family participation rather than treatment for just the recovering person," said Auberle CEO John Lydon. "The Auberle Family Healing Center will strengthen the entire family and reduce the need for disruptive and expensive out of home placements later. This program offers us the opportunity to strengthen each family both now and for generations to follow."

Auberle is an innovative and collaborative force in the region with over 100 strategic partners serving thousands of people and families annually in 20+ programs across western PA. It has received multiple national and regional awards for the high outcomes for those it serves, as well as for innovation and sustainability, including recognition as Agency of the Year in the U.S. by Social Current. Auberle staff have voted it a Top Workplace nine years in a row. The Auberle Family Healing Center is a collaboration with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.

The Auberle Family Healing Center will host an official ribbon cutting event later this month to celebrate the facility being completed.

For more information on physical and behavioral health care and other supportive services available to Pennsylvania families, visit dhs.pa.gov.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brandon Cwalina, DHS - [email protected]

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.