Dec 28, 2024 5 min read

You only turn 60 years old once, and Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services Inc. (SPHS) did it in style last month.

The organization marked the milestone anniversary Nov. 21 at a celebration at the DoubleTree Washington/Meadow Lands.

“In addition to a short video featuring the 60-year journey of the agency, the highlight of the evening was keynote speaker Donald Goughler,” says Kellie McKevitt, SPHS Executive Vice President/CEO. Goughler was executive director of Mon Valley United Health Services in 1985, when the decision was made to consolidate the two existing core agencies to better serve the community. That merger resulted in the birth of SPHS, which is December’s recipient of the Driven By Hope Award sponsored by Washington Auto Mall.

The creation of SPHS all those years ago happened when a group of Mon Valley citizens joined together to develop an organized, collaborative network for the delivery of health and human services. Today, it has become a multi-corporate system consisting of Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services Inc. (SPHS) and eight affiliate corporations providing a full range of management/administrative services and central oversight to a comprehensive health and human service provider system.

That structure allows the affiliates to concentrate energy on direct service delivery throughout Washington, Fayette, Greene, Butler, Armstrong and Westmoreland counties, serving more than 60,000 people annually at 60 service locations. SPHS also provides administrative services to other local nonprofit organizations in hopes of better connecting and serving all residents through cooperation and strong community relationships.

In Washington County, SPHS affiliate agencies include The CARE Center, Connect Inc., Diversified Human Services Inc., and Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging Inc.

“These services include mental health and substance abuse treatment, victim and crisis services, homeless assistance, child care, aging services, developmental services, and family support services,” says McKevitt, who has been with SPHS for more than 33 years. “What I find most rewarding are the people we serve. The collective journeys and successful outcomes for each individual are both inspiring and rewarding.”

Getting started

It all began Dec. 11, 1964, when Mon Valley United Health Services was created. Before that, Mon Valley residents had to travel long distances to access basic human services. The new organization, located in the former Second Street School in Charleroi, aimed to make health services more accessible and efficient for local communities.

In 1965, the first initiative under Mon Valley United Health Services – the Visiting Nurse Services – made nearly 1,800 home visits, marking a strong start to what would become decades of community care. That same year, the city of Monessen also established the Mon Valley Health and Welfare Authority, which played a key role in planning and constructing the Mon Valley Community Health Center. Two years later, J. Wendell Ramey became the first executive director of both Mon Valley Health and Welfare Authority and Mon Valley United Health Services, eventually becoming the first CEO of SPHS. Under his leadership, Mon Valley United Health Services grew rapidly, expanding services to meet the community’s evolving needs.

Growth continued through the decades, and SPHS was born in 1985 with the consolidation of Mon Valley Health and Welfare Council with Mon Valley United Health Services. The creation of SPHS integrated new affiliates, including Diversified Human Services, Mon Valley Community Health Services, and what is now the Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission.

The next 20 years brought further expansion with the opening of the Monessen Childcare Center, new mobile health services reaching rural areas, a new Central Kitchen where congregate meals are prepared for senior and child-care centers, and the creation of Health Plus to provide homebound health care. SPHS also began offering mental health and drug and alcohol treatment services through Southwest Behavioral Care and launched initiatives to support the homeless through Connect, a new affiliate agency.

In 2006, SPHS moved to the former Montgomery Ward building in Charleroi, and by 2013, several programs and administrative services were consolidated to the Chamber Plaza location.

“Comprehensive Community Services Inc. was established in early 2005 to oversee the acquisition and renovation of properties essential to SPHS programs and services,” explains McKevitt. “Its first major projects included the former Holy Name Church in Monessen, which now serves as the Monessen Family Center, and the former Giant Eagle building in Monessen, which currently houses our behavioral health and child-care programs.”

SPHS was designated a Center of Excellence for Opioid Use Disorder by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services in 2016. Today, SPHS operates seven COE program locations, recognized for their high performance under commonwealth standards.

“SPHS continues to evolve to meet the needs of the communities we serve,” says McKevitt.

In 2023, SPHS opened a new formula bank at the Monessen Family Center and expanded pharmacy services with a new Genoa Pharmacy in Washington County.

“SPHS and affiliate agencies are honored to be recognized by the Observer-Reporter and Washington Auto Mall through their Driven by Hope project,” McKevitt said. “We have remained steadfast to our communities and the mission of service envisioned by our leaders 60 years ago.”

SPHS operates through a combination of federal, state, and county funding, community resources, fee-for-service revenue and government grants and contracts. Many of their programs throughout the SPHS system have volunteer opportunities.

For more information on how to help or volunteer, please visit www.sphs.org.