Directions

From Coudersport, travel west on Route 6 for 10 miles; turn left at the second entrance to Roulette (the Little League field will be on your right). Take the first left onto North Street, and travel about 100 yards. Potter County Human Services is on the left.

When you call…

Many services have been created to meet the physical, social, and emotional needs of people to enable them to remain in the community. Dealing with any bureaucratic agency can be frustrating. You should keep an informal written record, a log or diary, for recording information you will need later on. The following suggestions will help you cut through red tape and find the assistance you need.

	Be specific.  Know exactly what you want before you call a particular agency. Talk to the care-receiver, doctor, clergy, social worker, etc., and get a clear idea of the type of service you want. If you are unsure of the exact type of agency you need, ask us. Potter County Human Services will provide you with a direct reference or an idea of the type of agency to call.
	Be polite but firm.  Do not lose your temper and hang up. Explain your problem as clearly and as often as necessary.
	Try to call in the morning or right after lunch.  These are probably the best times to reach caseworkers.
	Don’t apologize when asking for help.  If you cannot afford even a minimal fee, say so! Many human service agencies receive money through taxes, contributions, and other sources which may pay charges for the services.  Also, some agencies have free volunteer services.
	Get the name of everyone you talk to.  If someone is rude, refuses to help or is impolite, don’t lose your temper. Remain calm but demand to talk to the person’s supervisor.
	If the agency requires an intake interview, be prepared.  Take all relevant legal and financial papers with you. If you feel stressed, take someone with you. If necessary, take notes during the interview and be sure that you are clear as to what is going to happen and what responsibilities you have, including legal and financial.

Welcome

Potter County Human Services is a coordinated, comprehensive human services system which operates under a single administrative, fiscal and program structure. We offer a wide spectrum of assistance to residents of the county, ranging from families facing many complex problems, to individuals who require brief interventions, or referral to other appropriate resources.

On July 1, 1987, Potter County Human Services (PCHS) was officially designated by the state of Pennsylvania and the Potter County Commissioners as Potter County’s co-located, integrated human services system. Before that time, the various departments (Children and Youth Services, Area Agency on Aging, Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Coordinated Services, Alcohol and Other Drugs) that came to make up PCHS existed separately and in different locations throughout the county. To form the new system, the Potter County Commissioners had to 1) remove some of the county’s social services programs from “jointers” with multiple counties; 2) physically locate all of the agencies that would form PCHS together under one roof; and 3) develop a single financial and administrative structure.

Potter County Human Services was created to provide a central place where county residents could get easy access to the services they needed with as little “red tape” as possible. Having a single administrative structure would also make it possible for agency programs to share various costs and resources, allowing us to provide more services to residents-for less money. In addition, it was felt that locating these services under a single Potter County agency made more sense than allowing financial and administrative control of our programs to rest with administrators from out-of-county jointers.

From all over Potter County, mandated social service departments and some miscellaneous programs were brought together at Maple View Health Center in Coudersport to form our comprehensive human services system. Between 1987 and 1992, Potter County Human Services continued to grow as an agency, making a number of adoptions and changes. However, on May 2, 1992, a devastating fire burned Maple View Health Center (and along with it, the entire human services system) to the ground. The agency was temporarily located in downtown Coudersport and then re-located to renovated office space at the LL Smith building in Roulette in 1995.

In addition to the departments listed above, over 1.5 million dollars in new grants have been brought into Potter County through PCHS staff efforts. We’ve been awarded some exciting new program development opportunities including funds for a mobile family center, a mentoring program, supervised youth recreation, parent support and education, insurance outreach, etc. Since the agency’s start in 1987, PCHS’s programs have continued to grow and develop in response to the social services needs of county residents, and is part of county-wide effort that emphasizes prevention, supporting families and collaboration with other agencies.

Our vision is that Potter County will be a place where families will be safe, well educated, responsible and productive. Community members will be committed to creating and sustaining an environment where all persons can thrive and contribute. We share the responsibility for supporting families and communities in the protection and education of our children and in encouraging the development of healthy beliefs, clear standards, and each child’s potential.