About KVOU

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How We Started

KVOU has been offering community services for nearly 50 years providing opportunities for our individuals to live everyday lives in the community. As a small provider agency, we offer long term, well trained, knowledgeable, and caring direct support professionals that provide quality services to the people we support. KVOU’s residential homes, licensed annually by the Office of Developmental Programs, are proud of the long-standing record of compliance with the Chapter 6400 regulations. The agency has achieved 100% compliance in all residential programs 8 of the past 13 years since 2010. KVOU is also an Office of Developmental Programs Qualified Provider and has received 100% compliance in the past two Quality Assessment and Improvement (QA&I) on-site audits in 2018 and 2021 and 100% and Fiscal Claims Review audit in 2020.


KVOU is a private, non-profit organization. Most of our services are funded through the Home and Community Based Waiver Program licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Office of Developmental Programs.


Our services and employment are provided in a non-discriminatory manner. Admissions, the provisions of services, and referrals of clients shall be made without regard to race, color, religious creed, disability, ancestry, national origin (including Limited English Proficiency), age, or sex. We are an equal opportunity care provider "EOCP".


Program Services shall be made accessible to eligible persons with disabilities through the most practical and economically feasible methods available. A reasonable accommodation will be provided for a person with a disability (e.g. hearing, speech, vision, mobility impairments). These methods include, but are not limited to, equipment redesign, the provision of aides and the use of alternative service delivery locations. Structural modifications shall be considered only as a last resort among available methods. The agency's policy is to integrate minorities, persons with disabilities, and/or individuals with limited English proficiency into programs and activities.


Any individual/client (and/or their guardian) who believes they have been discriminated against, may file a complaint of discrimination with:


  • Kiski Valley Opportunities Unlimited
  • Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Human Services BEO/Office of Civil Rights Compliance (OCR)                            
  • Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centralized Care Management Operations                                         
  •  Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC)


If you have a friend or family member who would be interested in our program, you or your Supports Coordinator may contact KVOU administrative office at 724-567-7799​​​​​​​.

Quality & Experienced Care

KVOU strives to ensure services offered to those supported by KVOU are following the Person-centered thinking principle. To accomplish this, equal emphasis will be on quality of life, well-being, and informed choice. The full benefits of community living will be offered to each person supported by KVOU; they will be supported to live their idea of a good life. They will be seen and known for their strengths, talents, and interests.  They have a right to fail and learn from their mistakes (Dignity of risk).


ISAC’s recommendations as stated in Everyday Lives: Values in Action publication and what KVOU is doing to support those we serve are listed below. KVOU stives to follow the motto Nothing About Me Without me.

  • Assure Effective Communication

    Everyone supported by KVOU will have their preferred mode of communication used when employees are communicating with them.



  • Promote Self-Direction, Choice, & Control

    Every person supported by KVOU will be respected as a person, opportunities will be given to them to make choices when needed, and their decisions will be honored.   If someone needs assistance to make a decision, that assistance will be provided to them in their preferred mode of communication. 



  • Increase Employment

    When someone supported by KVOU expresses a desire to work, CPS or competitive employment, the individual and their team will meet to discuss available options. 



  • Support Families Throughout the Lifespan

    Families of people supported by KVOU, unless the family member has opted out of/declined to receive this information, will be kept updated on their loved one’s progress, health, medications, and community involvement.



  • Increase Community Participation

    Every person supported by KVOU will be encouraged to not only go into the community, but to participate in their communities, to make friends, contribute, experience new things, and develop new interests and hobbies. ​​​​​​​



  • Promote Health, Wellness, and Safety

    Everyone supported by KVOU will be educated on and encouraged to eat healthy (or how to follow their recommended diets), exercise, lead a healthy life, and participate in relaxing/calming/enjoyable activities to aid in mental/emotional health. They will be educated on their medical and treatment needs, diagnoses, and medications. 


    Support staff will be trained on each person’s health promotions and risk mitigation strategies and will ensure all recommendations are followed.

  • Support People with Complex Needs

    Whether the complex need is physical, medical, or behavioral, everyone supported by KVOU will have support staff that are trained on their specific needs. Staff will, at all times, follow any plan, risk mitigation, protocol, and/or procedure that is created to best support the person.  



  • Develop and Support Qualified Staff

    KVOU has a thorough new hire orientation training that exceeds regulatory requirements. In addition, KVOU employees receive training throughout each year on general topics as well as specific information about the people they support.



  • Improve Quality

    The person-centered services provided to the people supported by KVOU will be continually monitored and measured. It is a goal to, at all times, provide the best services to everyone in KVOU care, so everyone experiences an everyday life.



  • Expand Options for Community Living

    People supported by KVOU will be included in the decision of where they want to live when alternate homes are being sought by the agency. When a referral is received for an individual needing residential placement in an agency home with a vacancy, the people already living in the home will be asked if they want this person as a housemate.



Our Mission:

The Mission of Kiski Valley Opportunities Unlimited is to provide support for individuals with developmental disabilities in their efforts to grow intellectually, spiritually, socially, and emotionally as members of the community. To accomplish this, KVOU will provide a continuum of residential services to support our individuals in achieving greater independence, choice and opportunity in their lives.

Our Vision:

The Vision of Kiski Valley Opportunities Unlimited is to provide accessible services and supports that are flexible, innovative, and person-centered through continuous planning for every individual served by incorporating their choice, control and freedom over relationships, employment, roles in the community and use of community resources.  Our supports will offer stability that changes occur only with their input and permission and in collaboration with the Office of Developmental Programs and other offices affiliated with the Department of Public Welfare during their transitions. Positive Approaches and the principles of Everyday Lives: Making it Happen will be utilized by ensuring individual's likes, dislikes, preferences and goals are communicated in the most effective mode while providing a safe and healthy environment which fosters their continuing growth in achieving greater independence in their homes and community.

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