KEYSTONE HUMAN SERVICES ANNOUNCES NEW COMMITMENT TO ACTION AT CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE
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Keystone Moldova English and Keystone Moldova Romanian
Keystone Human Services (KHS) is a non-profit organization that is a part of a global movement to provide support and expertise to people with disabilities.
For immediate release
September 20, 2022
For more information, contact:
Kris Weaver, KHS VP of Development
Office: 717-232-7509
Email: [email protected]
KEYSTONE HUMAN SERVICES ANNOUNCES NEW COMMITMENT TO ACTION AT CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE
Harrisburg, PA—Keystone Human Services (KHS) announced a new Commitment to Action at this year’s Clinton Global Initiative in New York. Through this Commitment, entitled “Inclusive Crisis Response and Recovery – Rebuilding Forward – Moldova/Ukraine,” KHS will coordinate a national-level disability-inclusive relief and response effort within Moldova to support refugees from Ukraine, as well as Moldovan communities providing support, addressing both immediate basic and longer-term targeted needs.
First, KHS will map the needs of refugees and support communities, identifying those most at-risk who have specific needs, including medicines, accessibility devices, mental health and psychological support, legal assistance, socialization and education services, support in heating homes and shelters, and individual case management.
Second, Keystone Moldova, a subsidiary of Keystone Human Services under local leadership in Moldova, will develop new services, including social canteens, social laundry services, and other hygiene services to meet the needs of refugees and communities.
Third, KHS will build the capacity of local civil society organizations and local public authorities to develop an inclusive emergency response and provide support to refugees and Moldovan communities where it is most needed.
Finally, KHS will advocate for policies related to emergency situations that include people with disability.
Partners in this commitment include the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection in Moldova, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Disability Task Force, Care International, Foundation de France, and Eurofins Foundation.
This year’s Commitment represents a scaling-up of the work KHS and Keystone Moldova are already doing to support refugees from Ukraine and promote inclusive practices related to emergency response. Over half a million people, mostly women, children, older people, and people with disability, have crossed into Moldova. People with disability are disproportionately affected by emergency, disaster, and conflict situations and face the risk of abandonment, violence, death, and lack of access to safety, relief, and recovery support. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Keystone Moldova has been working to ensure that people’s needs are being met, especially people with disability.
Keystone Moldova operates one of the few tents at the border crossing in Palanca, Moldova where children and families can stay together as they prepare for the next part of their journey. Keystone Moldova also expanded its existing Hotline Support Service to include refugees with disability, providing a toll-free hotline to access information, psychological and legal counseling, and referrals to other services.
In addition, Keystone Moldova is also leading the UNHCR Disability Task Force, a hub for providing coordinated support for refugees with disability.
This Commitment is KHS’s third Commitment to Action through the Clinton Global Initiative. In 2013, KHS committed to “Social and Financial Inclusion for Women and Girls,” developing an inclusive workforce model to promote the full and equal rights of women with disabilities and women who are caregivers of children with disabilities, as well as prevent the institutionalization of girls and women so they can live and thrive in the community. In 2016, KHS made a second Commitment in partnership with Rural India Supporting Trust (RIST), centered on social change for India around disability issues. Through “Advancing the Rights of People with Disability in India,” KHS launched Keystone Institute India to strengthen and support families and people with disability, change agents, and national leadership to develop an inclusive Indian society.
KHS has been a member of the Clinton Global Initiative since its inception. Through its participation, KHS has worked to ensure disability rights and inclusive practices become a natural part of conversations as leaders and organizations develop plans and projects to address global challenges.
More information about Keystone Human Services and its work in support of Ukraine is available here: https://www.khs.org/our-support-for-ukraine/.
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About Keystone Human Services
KHS is a multi-national human services organization based in Harrisburg, PA. KHS operates in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, the Republic of Moldova, and India, providing advocacy, services, and supports in early childhood education and family support, mental health, autism, and intellectual, developmental, cognitive, and physical disability. We build communities where everyone can thrive, direct their own lives, establish homes, find meaningful work, pursue education alongside their peers, and fill valued roles in the community. In addition to operating as KHS, KHS provides services through Susquehanna Service Dogs (SSD), Capital Area Head Start (CAHS), Partnerships for People, Key Human Services, Keystone Autism Services, Keystone Moldova, and Keystone Institute India.
More information can be found at KHS.org.
About Keystone Moldova
Keystone Moldova was founded by Keystone Human Services International (KHSI) in 2003. Keystone Moldova and KHSI work collaboratively with the Government of Moldova, Multilateral Donors, Non-governmental Organizations, and Advocates to develop inclusive, community-based services for people with disability.
About the Clinton Global Initiative
The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global and emerging leaders to create and implement solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. CGI works with partners to drive action through its unique model. Rather than directly implementing projects, CGI facilitates action by helping members connect, collaborate, and develop Commitments to Action – new, specific, and measurable plans that address global challenges. Through CGI, the community has made more than 3,700 Commitments to Action that have made a difference in the lives of more than 435 million people in more than 180 countries.