History

Passavant Memorial Homes Family of Services (PMHFOS) has a long history of empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and behavioral health needs to live successfully in the community.

In 1861, the Rev. Dr. William Alfred Passavant purchased a farm in Rochester, PA, with his immediate interest being the establishment of an orphan’s home for girls. In the spring of 1863, 25 girls were moved from the Pittsburgh Infirmary to the Rochester Orphan’s Home, which was dedicated in July of the same year. In early 1895, the orphaned children were relocated to a home for boys and girls that had been established in Zelienople, PA. On June 6, 1895, exactly one year to the day after Dr. Passavant’s death, the Passavant Memorial Home for the care of Epileptics was dedicated, with Rev. William Alfred Passavant, Jr. as the first superintendent.

The following timeline reviews PMHFOS’s significant milestones and focuses on our recent organizational initiatives. PMHFOS has evolved into one of Pennsylvania’s foremost providers of support to individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and behavioral health. We invite you to follow our rich history and our evolution into one of the region’s foremost human service provider agencies.

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1895

Passavant Opens

Passavant Memorial Homes (PMH) opened its doors at Rochester, Pennsylvania, serving children and adults with epilepsy and intellectual disabilities.

1989

PMH opened its first Adult Training Facility in Rochester, Pennsylvania (Licensed under Pennsylvania Code, Title 55, Chapter 2380).

1990

PMH opened its first Community Residential Program (Licensed under Pennsylvania Code, Title 55, Chapter 6400).

1992

PMH opened its second Adult Training Facility to support individuals residing in Allegheny and Butler counties. This program remained open, serving 51 individuals, until it was relocated to Harmar Township in 2001.

1994

PMH opened its first Family Living Program (Licensed under Pennsylvania Code, Title 55, Chapter 6500).

1995

PMH transitioned a 24-bed Intermediate Care Facility to a Waiver Program, providing supports to 24 individuals.

1997

PMH successfully integrated 23 Community Residential Homes in Westmoreland County previously operated by another provider. These homes were licensed within a one-week time period.

2000

PMH opened a 14-bed Long-Term Structured Residence (LTSR) in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, for the Westmoreland County Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Program (Licensed by under Pennsylvania Code, Title 55, Chapter 5320).

2000

Passavant Development Corporation (PDC) was formed as a subsidiary corporation of PMH. PDC opened a closed door, long-term care pharmacy to assure the delivery of quality pharmaceutical services to community residential providers. The formation of this business line was to help eliminate providers' ongoing frustrations with large corporate pharmacies that did not understand or were unable to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities.

2000

PMH redesigned the service delivery of Home and Community Based supports with the advent of Person/Family Directed Support Waiver. This new waiver and the Philosophy of Self-Determination guided PMH in exploring and developing a service delivery system designed to address the diverse needs of children and adults residing in their own homes.

2000

PMH received the first U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant for the purpose of purchasing and renovating community homes. These projects have provided more accessible housing for individuals as well as permanent residences for aging individuals who may experience diminished physical abilities throughout their lifetime.

2001

The Passavant Memorial Homes Foundation (PMHF) was founded to support Passavant Memorial Homes Family of Services (PMHFOS) and its commitment to enriching the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, autism, and behavioral health needs.

2001

PMH built and opened the Hartman Vocational and Employment Center in Harmarville, Pennsylvania, to address the need for a larger and more centrally located program, providing individuals with services including an Adult Training Facility, Job Search and Placement, Volunteer Opportunities, Work Skills Training, and the Inclusive Community Opportunities Network.

2003

PMH opened its first Seniors Program in the Kohler Resource Center in Rochester, Pennsylvania. The program was developed to address the needs of older adults with intellectual disabilities who were unable to find a suitable leisure and recreation-based program within the Beaver County area.

2004

Life Enrichment Trust (LET) was formed out of a need to assist families in providing financially for their loved ones with disabilities without the risk of compromising eligibility for ongoing government benefits. LET provides options for the use of funds from estate planning, legal settlements, and other forms of income.

2006

PMH was honored to receive the 2006 Opportunity Award from St. Anthony School Programs. The award was presented to PMH for its commitment to providing services to meet the ongoing needs of individuals with disabilities. PMH was recognized for making a difference in the lives of children with intellectual disabilities and autism, and creating opportunities for these children where none previously existed.

2006

Accessible Dental Services (ADS) was formed with the goal of providing quality, specialized dental services to individuals with disabilities.

2008

PMH opened its first Children’s Program (Licensed under Pennsylvania Code, Title 55, Chapter 3800), expanding supports to children and adolescents across western Pennsylvania.

2008

PMH implemented a preferred service model: “Lifesharing through Family Living.” The initiative to expand this service model has afforded individuals the opportunity to live with a family or friend in a private home, where previously they had not considered this level of support.

2008

PMH successfully transitioned six residential sites and Home and Community Based supports for individuals funded through Allegheny, Clarion, Clearfield, Jefferson, and Lawrence counties.

2009

PMH further expanded its Children’s Program by opening the Mt. View Children’s Program in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

2010

PDC Pharmacy expanded services by opening a closed-door pharmacy located in Boulder, Colorado.

2010

ADS purchased a mobile dental unit through generous grants from the FISA Foundation, the Highmark Foundation, and funds raised through annual Passavant Memorial Homes Foundation (PMHF) events. This unit has enabled ADS to take their specialized dental treatment to areas of Pennsylvania where no services were available for individuals with disabilities.

2010

ADS entered into an affiliation agreement with the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine (Pitt) through their Center for Patients with Special Needs. Under this agreement, Pitt’s third and fourth year dental students work with ADS professionals at local offices to become familiar with the specific needs of individuals with disabilities.

2012

PMH was chosen to manage an agency serving 84 individuals with complex behavioral and chronic mental health needs. An onsite management team provided daily support and implemented all systems to ensure the organization remained stable and that individuals were provided quality services consistent with regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations. In October of 2012, all services were licensed under PMH and became part of PMHFOS.

2015

PMH assumed operations of four residential locations previously operated by a northern Allegheny County provider for 10 individuals who selected PMH to be their community residential living provider.

2016

Twelve individuals previously served through the Bedford/Somerset Department of Developmental Disability Services Program selected PMH as their provider of Lifesharing (Family Living) supports. All individuals were able to remain in their current residences with their previous family providers, thereby ensuring a smooth transition of services.

2017

PMH expanded community residential services into the State of Delaware at the request of the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services. PMH has developed three community living arrangements for individuals with intellectual disabilities in the State of Delaware.

2017

Twenty-three individuals previously served through the Bedford/Somerset Department of Developmental Disability Services Program selected PMH as their provider of residential community living supports. As with the Lifesharing program transition in 2016, all individuals were able to remain in their current residences, ensuring a smooth transition of services.

2019

PDC Pharmacy expanded services by opening a closed-door pharmacy located in Erie, Pennsylvania.

2019

PMH expanded its Home and Community Based supports program by opening a regional office located in New Castle, Pennsylvania.

2024

PMH opens newly renovated regional offices in Harmarville, creating a state-of-the-art space for collaboration and teamwork.