HAZLETON - A Pottsville-based group probably will start providing job-training and leisure-time activities in Hazleton for clients of United Rehabilitation Services, which is closing on June 18.
Avenues, which offers services in Pottsville and Mahanoy City, began contract talks with Luzerne-Wyoming Mental Health and Development Services.
"Nothing is finalized, but it looks like we'll be working with Avenues," Luzerne-Wyoming Director David Schwille said Tuesday. "They submitted a pretty viable proposal."
About 300 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre and Tunkhannock relied on URS for jobs and job training until the organization said it had to close after 56 years to stem financial losses.
URS also offered a social setting for clients, who went to dances, sang in concerts and took field trips together. Clients also developed friendships with their teachers and counselors, some of whom worked at URS for decades.
Avenues provides similar services for more than 1,000 people. At Avenues, people attend training programs in Pottsville, Mahanoy City and Sunbury. Also, Avenues operates thrift stores, gift shops and a nursery.
Schwille said the Luzerne-Wyoming agency seeks one contract covering July 1 to Dec. 31 and another contract for all of 2015.
The agency also asked qualified individuals or organizations to submit proposals for providing recreational and leisure activities to 150 adults for July and August.