Keystone Human Services

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is coming up on December 3. This year’s theme centers around amplifying the leadership of people with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future. This means recognizing that people with disabilities are the experts in their lives. And it means listening to and partnering with people with disability to remove barriers and provide good support for inclusion. Join us on December 3 (which also happens to be #GivingTuesday) in promoting the rights and wellbeing of people with disability. You can donate here: https://lnkd.in/edm4r6Qd #IDPD2024 #Disability Equity #LeaveNoOneBehind

Join the Keystone Institute as they welcome Rhiannon Noecker, MNA,CNP, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County, for this participatory workshop, as we examine the harsh realities of poverty and talk about how communities can address the problem and how each one of us can be moved to make a difference. The workshop will be held at Central Penn College, 600 Valley Road, Summerdale, PA on December 4, 2024 from 9:00am to 1:00pm. A light lunch will follow. Please register at: https://lnkd.in/ex4urQFw

Next week I will be presenting alongside leading experts in the Enabling Technology field at Arkansas’ first Enabling Technology Summit in Little Rock. I will be sharing Keystone Human Services’ success towards becoming a Technology First provider over the past six years. Reflecting on our journey, it is remarkable to remember how we began in 2018 with just one individual and their team brainstorming ways to implement technology as a natural support, when no one else in the state had done it before. Today, Keystone utilizes Enabling Technology to support over 200 individuals across three states. It is truly impressive to consider our starting point and the significant advancements we have made in such a relatively short period.

On November 6, 2024, Keystone Human Services (KHS) honored Genevieve Fitzgibbon with the Dr. Joseph Adlestein Professional Leadership Award at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Membership. This award is given annually to someone in a professional role who is a powerful advocate for people with disability, supporting them to be valued and fully participating members of society. As the President and CEO of Keystone Human Services International, a subsidiary of Keystone Human Services, Fitzgibbon has devoted her career toward the full community inclusion of people with disability and equal rights for all people, especially those who are most deeply marginalized. She has over two decades of experience promoting the development of innovative supports for people with intellectual disability, autism, and those who use mental health services. She has been involved with Keystone Institute India since its inception and was also deeply engaged in the formative stages of KHS’s ongoing work in the Republic of Moldova, where she continues to provide guidance and oversight. “Genevieve has been a driving force behind KHS’s international work, fostering relationships and partnerships with like-minded global organizations with the goal of developing sustainable community-based services with people with disability rather than for them,” said Charles Sweeder, President and CEO of Keystone Human Services. “When it comes to disability rights, she is a powerful advocate alongside people with disability. Everything she does centers around inclusion.” “I’m proud to be part of presenting this award to Genevieve,” said Stephen Rader, Chair of the KHS Board of Directors. “She has a passion and energy for bringing Keystone’s vision and values to life.”

On November 6, 2024, Keystone Human Services (KHS) honored Heather Bowlin with the Edna Silberman Humanitarian Service Award at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Membership. Given annually, the award honors outstanding citizens who have made significant contributions to individuals, the community, and KHS, and who have played a major role in making the KHS vision real in the lives of others. Bowlin has been a member of the Keystone Partnership Board of Directors since 2011, currently serving as the Vice Chair, and she has been a Corporate Member since 2018. She is a steadfast supporter of KHS’s fundraising activities and events. She plays an active role on the ChocolateBall Committee, which she chaired from 2005-2017 and continues to serve as a member, helping to organize and design KHS’s largest fundraising event. “Heather is a champion within the community for Keystone Human Services and our mission,” said Charles Sweeder, President and CEO of KHS. “Her leadership, energy, and creativity have been invaluable in engaging other community members and organizations in our work to promote inclusion for people with disability.” “It is an honor to present this award to Heather,” said Stephen Rader, KHS Board Chair. “She’s an example of how an individual can help to unite the community around a common cause.”?

Keystone Human Services International is part of the Interagency Working Group on Violence Against Children and Care. Violence against children won’t end without full inclusion of children with disabilities and ending institutionalization of children. Join us on Wednesday, November 6 during the 1st Global Ministerial Conference to #endviolenceagainstchildren in Columbia for the satellite event on Addressing Children’s Care to End Violence Against Children. Register virtually: https://bit.ly/4dGkqXP ?

We are pleased to announce Dr. Joseph Sebastian as the recently appointed Chief of Party at Keystone Human Services International (KHSI), where he will spearhead the USAID-funded project Children and Families Together - India (CAFT-India). CAFT-India is a five-year consortium program supported by USAID in alignment with Advancing Protection and Care for Children in Adversity: A U.S. Government Strategy for Children to Thrive (2024-2029). With match funding from the Rural India Supporting Trust (RIST), CAFT is an innovative system change initiative that champions sustainable and inclusive child-care reform models that can be scaled across the country. CAFT-India brings together four organizations, including KHSI, Child in Need Institute (CINI), and Hope and Homes for Children, with a combined experience of 62 years of working in India to contribute toward strengthening local capacity to catalyze best practices and build on the care reform momentum already underway, with a key focus on children with disabilities and children in adversity. With 28 years in the nonprofit sector, Dr. Sebastian has dedicated his career to advancing global development, educational empowerment, integrated community development, and humanitarian relief. He holds a Ph.D. in social work and specializes in urban and rural community development. In his previous role as the Director and Global Head at Faizal and Shabana Foundation, he led the foundation’s evolution from a localized initiative to a global organization with 21 projects spanning South Asia, East Africa, the Middle East, and the UK. Prior to his tenure at Faizal and Shabana, Dr. Sebastian earned the Pillar of Excellence Award for his strategic and effective leadership as the Executive Director of the Indo Global Social Service Society (IGSSS). Other previous roles include Director of Program Operations at Project Concern International (now Global Communities) and Director of MEL. His work involved managing multi-million-dollar projects funded by US federal government (USAID, CDC, OFDA), other bilateral government agencies, and international donors, where he honed his expertise in program implementation, donor relations, and collaborative project management. His work has encompassed diverse thematic areas, including education, integrated community development, health interventions, youth leadership enhancement, and urban poverty eradication. Dr. Sebastian’s leadership is characterized by his ability to transform challenges into opportunities for growth.

Catherine E. Walters, is a Partner at the Law Firm of BYBEL RUTLEDGE LLP, where she handles management-side employment and labor matters for employers of all sizes. Her practice spans an array of industries, including financial and banking, manufacturing, defense contracting, education, health care, professional services, construction, human services, technology, retail, and hospitality.?Catherine’s extensive experience and collaborative skills enable her to partner with her clients to develop creative, practical, business-oriented solutions to their legal challenges. Her emphasis on strategic thinking and focused solutions enables her to provide employers with the sophisticated counsel that has become necessary in today’s complex business environment. Catherine regularly appears before federal and state courts and administrative agencies where she handles both employment and traditional labor matters. Catherine has been a member of the Keystone Partnership Board for three years. She proudly supports Keystone’s mission, its programs, and its employees as they work together to improve lives.?In addition to the Keystone Partnership Board of Directors, Catherine currently serves as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section Executive Council.?Over the years, Catherine has also served on numerous non-profit and community and economic development boards such as: WITF, Inc. Board of Directors (Chair of Government Relations Committee), from 2009 to 2019; Susquehanna Chorale Board of Directors 2018 to 2022; U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Corporate Leadership Advisory Council, 2014 to 2018; and Harrisburg Regional Chamber of Commerce and Capital Region Economic Development Corporation. Catherine also serves as a Practitioner Instructor for her alma mater, Penn State Dickinson Law.

What a great day for reading! Thanks to PNC’s Central PA Regional President Jim Hoehn and #TeamPNC?Kristen Del Grosso, CFP?, Scott Cantor, Kara Costopoulos, and Ellen Kyzer who visited to read to the children of the Capital Area Head Start Banks Street Center in Harrisburg, PA. The PNC Foundation also generously donated books and play kits for the children to enjoy!? ? Capital Area Head Start is grateful for #PNCGrowUpGreat, which helps prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life, providing innovative opportunities that assist families, educators, and community partners to enhance children’s learning and development. #HeadStartWorks ?

Thank you to Enders for supporting Keystone Human Services in our mission to create opportunities for growth and meaningful life choices so all people can be valued, contributing members of their community! Together, we’re working to make sure everyone has the opportunity to thrive, exercise their rights, and fully participate. (L to R): James Enders, Enders ; Charles Sweeder, President and CEO of Keystone Human Services; and Donald Enders, Jr, CIC, CPCU, Enders Visit https://lnkd.in/eX7dNDP8 to learn more about Enders Insurance.?