About Lower Merion Hedwig House        top
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    Lower Merion Hedwig House sits nestled on a quiet side street in Rosemont in Lower Merion Township along Philadelphia’s main line. Hedwig House has occupied this location for the last twenty-one years. The program in Lower Merion is due to relocate to a new location on Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore in the summer of 2003.    The program in Lower Merion is staffed by a Program Director, a full time Employment Specialist, two full time Rehabilitation Specialist and one part time Rehabilitation Specialist. As in all Hedwig House programs, the staff works along side the members to achieve goals and assure the smooth running of the clubhouse.

  The Kitchen Unit

       The kitchen unit in Lower Merion has evolved into a highly regarded unit.  Great care is taken to provide the Lower Merion members with a choice of sumptuous meals. There are two to three selections on the menu daily. For just $1.50 members can purchase a meal that may rival any meal on the main line.  Producing the final meal is important, but just as important is learning the proper tools  and techniques used in preparing a meal. Staff as well as the member unit leaders work closely with the members of the unit to ensure members are learning the skills they need in order to move onto competitive employment or to just be able to prepare a balanced meal at home.

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The Clerical Unit

       The Clerical Unit handles all of the general office duties necessary to keep the program running. They are responsible for answering phones, photocopying and contacting absent members through the outreach program. Members are also involved in recording attendance for the clubhouse. A big focus of the Clerical Unit is the production of the newsletter. The newsletter provides members with the opportunity to showcase their writing talents through poetry and short stories.

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The Educational Unit

       The Education Unit was designed to help improve member’s abilities in several areas.  The Education Unit operates such classes as Math, Human Relations and Psych. Rehab Training. The Math class has helped members improve their counting skills as well as help improve their ability to budget and manage money. Classes like Human Relations help members to understand their position in the communities in which they live and their relationship to those communities. Psych. Rehab Training teaches members about the programs they attend and how they can best utilize those programs to receive the most benefit. The Education Unit is also responsible for the orientation of new members into the clubhouse program.     The Education Unit also works in conjunction with the Clerical Unit to provide computer training classes. Members can learn to use word processing or to build spreadsheets. Members may also use the internet and set up e-mail accounts.

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Related Services

New Foundations - At the present time, there are no housing services at the Lower Merion site. That is due to change later this year. However, Hedwig House does work closely with New Foundations. New Foundations is a program that provides residential support services to adults with mental illness. To inquire about residential support services, you may contact New Foundations at: 610-527-3411.

Lower Merion Counseling Services — Members attend Hedwig House to work on theirjob readiness skills as well as their daily living skills. No therapy is provided on site. For therapy and medication, members attend Lower Merion Counseling Services (LMCS).

To contact LMCS:

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