For Providers

What is Arch Street Center?

Arch Street Center has been a valuable community resource since 1983. Our mission is to support the recovery of adults living with serious mental illness. The Center is open every day of the year, providing meals, and a program that encourages, empowers, and educates individuals living with serious mental illness while providing for basic human needs like shelter and food that contribute to giving life meaning and value. We currently have over 300 members and serve approximately 50 individuals a day. There are other places in Lancaster to find a meal; there is only one place to go for people with a mental illness to receive integrated services 365 days a year. Our members gain a sense of stability and purpose that enhances their ability to be healthy and productive members of the community.

Arch Street Center is open 365 days a year, Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Lunch is served at 12:30 p.m. every day and dinner is served at 4:00.

Who Can Join?

1. Members must be at least 18 years of age. Although we recognize that there are many high-functioning consumers with developmental disabilities who would benefit from membership, the purpose of the Center is to serve individuals with a diagnosis of Serious Mental Illness (SMI), as defined by the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
2. Potential members are welcome to visit and tour the Center. Visits can be arranged by contacting us at (717) 392-8536. Attendance after the initial visit requires an appropriate referral and new member intake meeting.
3. Potential members are referred by written application. Active clients of Lancaster County BHDS or CSG ICM should be referred by their case manager. Private mental health professionals and family physicians may also request to refer potential members by completing the referral form and sending it to the Director along with a signed release of information form. Referrals will remain active for a period of 3 months.
4. The Arch Street Center Director reserves the right to contact the referral source with any concerns and may request that a case manager or other referral source attend the intake meeting.
5. An individual may be accepted at the time of intake. If questions or concerns arise, additional time may be needed to gather further information. In the event of membership rejection, the Center will notify the applicant and the referral source.
6. Referral sources should be aware that Arch Street Center is a social rehabilitation center, not a therapeutic or clinical treatment facility. Potential members must be actively involved with a treatment provider and compliant with goals such as proper medication management and other treatment recommendations.
7. Individuals who have a history of drug and alcohol abuse or violence, will be considered on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the treatment provider and may require a commitment to additional support from the treatment provider.
8. Treatment providers should discourage a member who is demonstrating an increase in symptoms from attending the Center until the symptoms have resolved. Treatment providers should also inform the Center of any significant changes in a client’s behavior that may pose a threat to the safety of staff, volunteers or other members of the Center.