At the State Representative Dan Miller Disability and Mental Health Summit, Mary Hartley, President of The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh and Senior Vice President of Achieva, spoke about the daily struggles of families who care for children with serious medical needs at home.
More than 3,000 children in Pennsylvania are approved for in-home skilled nursing, but many families can’t get the care they’re promised. “This is every night for these families,” Mary said. “Parents work all day, then stay up all night because no nurse shows up. It’s exhausting and unsafe.”
Highlighted by the panel were two proposed bills. One would let trained family members be licensed and paid to care for their children when no nurse is available. The other would raise pay and cut red tape so more nurses can be hired and kept on the job.
Home care is not only better for families, it also costs far less than hospital or institutional care. “No child should live in an institution in 2025,” said Mary Hartley. The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh and its partners are urging lawmakers to act so that more children can stay safely at home, where they belong.
Achieva Advocacy and The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh are Funded by Donors Like You!
The advocacy Achieva provides, like in the story above, differentiates Achieva from other charities. Advocacy is foundational to Achieva’s existence yet advocacy receives no public funds.
The
Blanco Family Fund for Advocacy and Family Support stands as an enduring force for disability rights and family support. Created to honor Achieva’s visionary leader, Marsha Blanco and her family, this board-designated fund generates vital resources year after year to help families fight for their rights and access essential services.
When families face closed doors in healthcare, education, or government systems, the Blanco Family Fund subsidizes the work of Achieva’s dedicated advocates who help break through barriers and work for meaningful change.
This isn’t just a fund—it’s a lifeline ensuring that people with disabilities and their families never stand alone in their fight for inclusion, dignity, and justice.
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