Strengthening Communities

In this episode, we continue our 50th anniversary reflection by exploring the power of lived experience, relationships, and purpose in action. As Access Services looks back on five decades of impact, hosts Mike and Mark are joined by Marissa, Director of the Bucks County LIFE program, whose journey with Access Services comes full circle. Marissa shares her story of first being served as a young adult through the TIP program and how that experience helped her discover her purpose and her path forward. Now, more than a decade later, she returns as a leader - bringing with her a deep commitment to peer support, authentic relationships, and creating space for others to define success on their own terms.

In this episode of the Strengthening Communities podcast, hosts Mark and Mike sit down with Don and Terri Bredamus (former house parents of a group home in the early 1980s) and their daughter Kristie. Together, they revisit what it was like to raise three young children while also supporting three men with intellectual disabilities as part of everyday family life.

In this episode of Strengthening Communities, hosts Mark and Mike sit down with former President & CEO Rob Reid to revisit the early years of Access Services and the mission that has guided the organization for five decades.   Rob reflects on the pivotal shift in the late 1970s and early ’80s as Access Services helped lead the movement from institutional care to community-based living for people with developmental disabilities. From the impact of the landmark Halderman v. Pennhurst case to the challenges of opening the first group homes, Rob shares powerful first-hand stories from a time when there were no templates, just a committed team determined to do the right thing.   Together, Mark, Mike and Rob explore how person-centered support evolved, how the team worked to build trust within neighborhoods, and how innovative models emerged from listening deeply to people’s needs. They also reflect on the personal impact of this work: the relationships that shaped them, the life lessons learned, and the shared commitment to stepping into the gaps where support is needed most.   This episode offers a meaningful, behind-the-scenes look at the values, stories, and mission that have defined Access Services for 50 years, and continue to strengthen communities today.

The Season 2 premiere of the Strengthening Communities podcast marks the start of Access Services’ 50th anniversary year with a powerful look back at the organization’s roots and lasting impact. Through archival stories, staff reflections, and a moving feature on Bob, a man who transitioned from crisis into a thriving Lifesharing home, the episode highlights Access’s unwavering commitment to helping people live full, connected lives in their communities. From pioneering early deinstitutionalization efforts to championing individualized, relationship‑centered support, the conversation showcases how “one person at a time” has grown into a legacy of meaningful change for thousands of individuals, families, and neighborhoods across the region.

In this powerful episode of the Strengthening Communities Podcast, we continue our two-part exploration of hunger, homelessness, and the lived experiences of our neighbors facing housing insecurity. This installment turns toward the reality of homelessness in our region, featuring a moving interview with Matt, a former resident of the Tent City encampment in Pottstown, and a first-hand account of what it takes to survive outdoors through brutal winters. Joined by longtime volunteers John Niarhos and Rob Heayn from Pottstown Beacon of Hope, a seasonal winter warming center, we hear candid reflections on resilience, leadership, and the quiet acts of human connection that make survival possible. Matt’s story brings a deep personal perspective to the crisis of homelessness.   Resources: Code Blue Shelters: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1L91TI7P9GUvMQEoM_9vwd1lvE2dach0&ll=40.20692792666611%2C-75.48862365000001&z=10 Amazon List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Q1W81282VZII/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex Understanding Homelessness: https://www.accessservices.org/understanding-homelessness/

In today’s episode, Mark and Mike dive into one of the most pressing issues facing our communities: hunger. Listen as they explore what food insecurity really looks like, why it’s on the rise, and how organizations like Martha’s Choice Marketplace are not only feeding families but building connections that transform lives. Join us as we uncover the stories behind the statistics, and learn how each of us can play a role in creating stronger, more compassionate communities. Resources: Martha's Choice Marketplace: https://www.marthaschoicemarketplace.com/ HopeWorx: https://www.hopeworxinc.org/

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, Mike, Mark, and their guests explore the transformative impact of lived experience in shaping community, recovery, and mental health support. Featuring voices from Creating Increased Connections of RHD and Minding Your Minds, the conversation centers around how individuals who have faced challenges, such as mental health struggles, can become vital contributors to their communities. Listeners will hear inspiring stories of resilience, including the journey of Mike Nelson, who shares how his personal experiences have fueled his passion for creating inclusive, non-judgmental spaces for healing and growth where people can find their purpose. The episode also features Kristen Harootunian from Minding Your Mind, a nonprofit focused on reducing mental health stigma through youth engagement and storytelling. This episode is a moving reminder that recovery is not just about overcoming hardship, it's about discovering purpose, building relationships, and recognizing the inherent value in every person’s story.   Learn more about the resources mentioned: Creating Increased Connections: https://www.ciconnections.org/  Integrated Diversity Education: https://www.ideyas.org/ Minding Your Mind: https://mindingyourmind.org/

In this episode of the Strengthening Community Podcast, we begin a two-part series called Reimagining Recovery. Guests Ivan Rosa, John Niarhos, and Ryan Schweiger share both professional insights and lived experiences with addiction and recovery. Together, with hosts Mark and Mike, they explore how substance use impacts families, workplaces, and neighborhoods, and highlight the importance of connection, compassion, and community support in breaking stigma and fostering healing.   Learn more about the resources mentioned: St. Luke's Penn Foundation: https://www.pennfoundation.org/  MCORT: https://www.accessservices.org/services/mobile-crisis/#mcort MontCo Department of Public Safety: https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/132/Public-Safety 

This episode of the Strengthening the Community podcast continues the discussion on disability and belonging, featuring Bev Weinberg of Integrate for Good and Angela McFarland of Jake’s Baristas. Both share how their organizations create spaces for people with disabilities to connect, contribute, and thrive, whether through leadership programs, inclusive service projects, or a welcoming coffee shop & open mic nights. The conversation emphasizes that belonging is a human need, not a special one, and that true inclusion comes from proximity, safety, and opportunities to give back. Stories of individuals working in competitive employment, volunteering, and building confidence illustrate how communities become stronger when everyone is valued and celebrated.   Learn more about Bev and Angela's organizations: https://integrateforgood.org/ https://www.jakesbaristas.com/ 

This episode introduces new co-host Mike McKenna and sets the tone for a podcast centered around building inclusive communities. The conversation is deeply personal, reflective, and rooted in the value of belonging—especially for people with disabilities. The episode includes interviews with community members with disabilities, centering their lives, insights, and the supports that help them thrive.

PTSD, which stands for post-traumatic stress disorder, typically occurs in people after they have experienced a particularly traumatic event like war, violent physical/sexual/verbal assault, accidents, medical trauma, and so forth. Many people recover from PTSD after a few days, weeks, or months. Yet, for others, the recovery road might be much longer. Join some of our Crisis Prevention and Intervention team members, individuals with lived experience and one of their partners in the Montgomery County Veterans Response Team (VRT) as they discuss PTSD and how to support those in our community who may be struggling. Trauma is part of human experience. Healing happens in connection to our community.    Resources: Montgomery County Veterans Response Team: https://www.pafop14.org/?zone=/unionactive/view_article.cfm&HomeID=916400  NAMI Montgomery County: https://namimontcopa.org/ Victim Service Center of Montgomery County (888-521-0983): https://www.victimservicescenter.org/ Montgomery County Mobile Crisis (1-855-634-4673): https://www.accessservices.org/services/mobile-crisis/    Peer Support Talk Line (Call 855-715-8255; Text 267-225-7785): https://www.accessservices.org/services/peer-support-and-teen-talk-line/ 

Every June, Pride Month is celebrated globally. This Pride month, we are reminded that our greatest strength is found in our shared humanity and unity with everyone in our community. Communities are their strongest when everyone has a sense of belonging.   Join our host, Mark Boorse and some of our Crisis Prevention and Intervention team members, Lindsey, Dottie and Alex, as they share their work to provide authentic and person-centered support for our community. Listen as they discuss what it means to create belonging in the community and how to be a support for our LGBTQIA+ neighbors in meaningful ways.   Montgomery County Mobile Crisis 1-888-634-HOPE (4673) Mobile Crisis - Access Services   Montco Peer Support Talk Line 855-715-8255   Montco Teen Talk Line 866-825-5856   Chester Co. Teen Talk Line 855-852-8336 Montgomery County, PA Peer Support: Teen Talk Lines | Access Services

National Foster Care Month recognizes the important role that people from all parts of child welfare play in supporting children, youth, and families. The 2025 theme, “Engaging Youth. Building Supports. Strengthening Opportunities.” highlights the need to create a support system that authentically engages and prepares young people who are leaving foster care. In 2021, 77 percent of eligible youth in foster care, ages 14–21 years old, exited care without receiving the federally funded services necessary to prepare them for adulthood and independent living. Our hosts, Mark Boorse and Brianna Amantia, are joined by Ursula Yao, our Director of Foster Care, John Crawley, a young adult who has aged out of foster care, and Juli Apple, our Provider Recruiter and long-time advocate for children and families who have adopted through the foster care system. Together, they discuss the foster care system, the challenges that young adults face as they exit the foster care system, the support foster families and children need and how the community can come alongside the child welfare system to help build strong supports. Resources mentioned in episode: Valley Youth House Mentoring Program https://valleyyouthhouse.org/programs/life-skills-independent-living/mentoring/ The Kindness Project https://mykindnessproject.org/  Foster Love https://fosterlove.com/  Access Services Foster Care Foster Care & Foster Homes | Access Services Become a Foster family Providers - Access Services

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. One of the less talked about topics is the intersection of incarceration and mental illness. According to NAMI National Alliance on Mental Illness, “About two in five people who are incarcerated have a history of mental illness (37% in state and federal prisons and 44% held in local jails). This is twice the prevalence of mental illness within the overall adult population. Given these rates, America’s jails and prisons have become de-facto mental health providers, at great cost to the well-being of people with mental health conditions” Our JRS program collaborates to help adults with mental health challenges navigate the forensic system, whether currently incarcerated or navigating re-entry into the local community. There are many barriers to re-entry. A big one is having a criminal record. Shuja Moore joins our podcast to talk about his lived experience with reentry and his campaign to help people understand the pardon system in PA.   Follow Shuja's work: https://www.instagram.com/shujamoore/ https://www.pardonsnow.org/ https://www.domooregood.org/   Learn more about Justice Related Services: https://www.accessservices.org/services/justice-related-services/

Introducing Strengthening Communities, a podcast where we will discuss a variety of topics in the human services fields and how our communities can be strengthened as we all work together.