ELWYN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Elwyn is expanding their services to a new age group.
Mike Gavula, with Elwyn, says they expect to open a young adult residential treatment facility for 18-to-26-year-olds who have autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and related behavioral health challenges within the next year.
They currently have both a children and adult residential treatment facility. The system gap, as Gavula explains, is really for that transitional age.
“A lot of times children are in residential treatment facilities as those onset of symptoms occur. Then, when they transition to the adult system, there is a gap for that young adult population.”
Gavula adds the six-to-12-month program provides residents with crucial resources.
“A lot of components to the program are taking into account social determinants of help, taking into account how to manage your mental illness or developmental disability,” he said. “It’s wrapping you around services in the community so you can be successful and live a normal life.”
He says the overnight program will work with up to 16 Delaware County residents at a time, and there will be certified peer specialists with lived experience "that will help these individuals as they move forward find resources in the community."
The program will be housed in a building on their Media campus, which is currently undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation project.
It’s expected to open in fall 2024.