Penn Foundation, Inc.

ABOUT PENN FOUNDATION, INC.

Located in the northern suburbs of Philadelphia, Penn Foundation provides treatment and support for children, adolescents, and adults struggling with mental health disorders, substance misuse, and/or intellectual disability. The center is among the 56.6 percent of Pennsylvania-based rehabs that operate as private nonprofits.

Penn Foundation's substance misuse services consist of medical detox, inpatient treatment, and several intensities of outpatient care, as well as intervention services. The center is particularly known for its dual diagnosis programming. Priority treatment is given to pregnant women.

TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT

Penn Foundation is founded on the belief that family plays an important role in treatment, and also highly recommends that its substance misuse clients participate in 12-step meetings.

During detox, if necessary, clients reside on a dedicated detox unit that's under constant medical supervision, where they receive medical care as well as treatment for any co-occurring mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder. Residential care is designed for adults and consists of individual, group, and family counseling. Family education, along with recreational activities such as yoga, volleyball, and aerobics, are also including in residential programming.

Outpatient care uses the same treatment modalities as the residential program, and aims to foster long-term lifestyle changes. Treatment is offered at a variety of intensities, including a partial hospitalization program (PHP), which is offered at 15.1 percent of Pennsylvania-based rehabs. The facility also offers an intensive outpatient program (IOP), which is available at 51 percent of Pennsylvania rehabs. The PHP requires attendance for 30 hours a week, on weekdays, and the IOP meets for up to nine hours a week, in the morning, afternoon, or evening.

For the families of non-clients who want to talk and strategize over a loved one's substance use, family consultations are available. There's also a free family education program available every Sunday. Children (ages nine to 12) who live in the presence of addiction are eligible to enroll in a free, overnight weekend camp called Camp Mariposa. The camp is an opportunity to learn self-care techniques and how to solve problems effectively, all while being able to share their experiences in a safe space.

STAFF CREDENTIALS

Staff at Penn Foundation includes psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, LMFT counselors, social workers, and non-clinical workers. A chaplain is available, too, to provide spiritual advice. The eight individuals polled by Rehabs.com to date on the staff gave mostly positive feedback:

Staff Experience and Training: 3.9/5

ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES

Penn Foundation's center has 16 detox beds and 39 residential beds. Pictures published on the facility’s website indicated simple, office-like decor, with a dining area and a common area with armchairs. Amenities include yoga sessions and smoking cessation classes.

The eight individuals polled by Rehabs.com to date on the center's amenities painted a picture of a clean facility with adequate leisure activities:

Cleanliness: 4.5/5
Exercise and Leisure: 3.6/5

WHAT ALUMNI SAY

Of the 11 alumni polled by Rehabs.com to date, two gave negative feedback and nine gave positive reports. The seven individuals polled on the facility's performance in a variety of metrics indicated that they would recommend the center and that it offered good family programming.

Would Recommend: 5/5
Family Participation: 4.3/5

But that treatment options were otherwise a little bare-bones:

Counseling Options: 3.6/5
Holistic Offerings: 3.1/5

There was little overlap between the commentary of the two negative reviewers. Cat reported that treatment didn't work for them, and B.K. felt that they were ripped off. In otherwise positive reviews, other alumni offered isolated complaints of small meals, a lack of holistic programming (which is borne out by the ratings for the center's holistic offerings), and a lack of time to rest.

Positive reviewers repeatedly praised the center's intimate size, friendly and caring staff, and ability to help them achieve long-term sobriety. Isolated praise also cited the center's treatment for co-occurring disorders and aftercare planning. "Overall, great facility. Smaller population compared to other facilities I've been to in the Philadelphia region. Very clean, awesome staff," E.W. wrote in a representative comment.

Secondary sites yielded mixed feedback at the time of this writing, with a 2.7 out of five-star average rating based on 40 reviews on Google, a 2.5-star average rating based on five reviews on Yelp, a 4.1-star average rating based on 55 reviews on Facebook (where the facility can manage its own page), and a single one-star rating on Yelp.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Though numerous clients praised the facility's staff and helpful programming, there were also repeated complaints of unhelpful and even rude staff, as well as administrative problems, such as trouble getting in contact with the center and getting staff to return calls. "You may want to seriously consider going elsewhere for help.All they do here is send you in circles, in the end leaving you with little to no real solutions or help," Lisa wrote in a representative comment on Google.

WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY

All four of the loved ones polled by Rehabs.com to date gave negative feedback. The single reviewer polled on Penn Foundation's performance in a variety of metrics gave the center four stars for its family participation, counseling options, and ability to treat co-occurring disorders, but indicated that they would not recommend the facility, citing uncaring staff. “80% of employees don’t care they treat addicted people with no respect what so ever," L.M. wrote.

All three of the other reviewers described difficulty getting proper care and diagnoses for their loved ones who were struggling with mental health disorders, rather than substance misuse.

WHAT STAFF SAY

The single staffer polled by Rehabs.com to date would not recommend Penn Foundation. Though staffer B.B. gave the center five stars for its honesty and its willingness to put clients’ interests first, they indicated that they had some concerns about the quality of the center’s care — upon which they did not elaborate. “Better facilities exsist,” they wrote.

FINANCING

Penn Foundation accepts Medicare and Medicaid as well as private insurance. The eight individuals polled by Rehabs.com to date on the center's affordability gave mostly positive feedback:

Affordability: 3.9/5

^[1] GoogleReviews
^[2] https://www.yelp.com/biz/penn-foundation-sellersville-2?osq=Penn+Foundation
^[3] https://www.facebook.com/pg/pennfoundation.org/reviews/?ref=page_internal
^[4] https://citehealth.com/rehab-centers/pennsylvania/cities/sellersville/penn-foundation-inc#reviews