About Gateways To Better Living
Empowering Lives, Building Futures, Together
Our Mission
Gateways is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of service for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Mahoning Valley. Providing each individual with the personalized support they need, fostering an environment that offers a safe and comfortable place to live their best lives.
Our Values
Empowerment
We believe in empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead fulfilling lives by providing them with the tools, resources, and support needed to achieve their fullest potential. We advocate for personal choice, independence, and self-advocacy in all aspects of their lives.
Commitment to Excellence
We strive for excellence in all our services by, consistently delivering high-quality care and support that exceeds expectations. Our dedicated, professional and competent staff are the heart of our organization, embodying our commitment to compassionate and individualized care.
Community Inclusion
We are dedicated to creating a society where all individuals are respected and valued. We actively promote inclusion and integration, fostering connections that celebrate diversity and enrich the community.
Respect and Dignity
We treat every individual with the utmost respect and dignity, recognizing their unique strengths, talents, and contributions. We are committed to a person-centered approach that recognizes each person’s rights, choices, and individuality.
Collaboration
We believe that strong partnerships with families, caregivers, and the community are essential to achieving our mission. By working together, we create a supportive network that uplifts and inspires everyone involved.
Innovation and Growth
We embrace innovation and continuously seek new ways to improve our services and programs. We are committed to learning, adapting, and growing to meet the evolving needs of those we serve.
Integrity
We uphold the highest standards of trustworthiness, reliability transparency, and ethical behavior in all that we do. Our actions are guided by our mission, vision, and unwavering commitment to the people and communities we serve.
These values reflect Gateways To Better Living’s dedication to empowering lives, building futures, and promoting an inclusive community for all.
Our Story
The Beginning
In 1972, Leonard Kirtz, Sr. and a group of concerned parents had a vision to provide people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with an alternative to traditional institutional placement that would place the highest of priorities on the mental and physical wellbeing of each individual. This led to the founding of Gateways to Better Living, Inc.
Our emphasis on care and compassion quickly resonated with individuals and their families. Within the first several years of Gateways, our organization rapidly grew, expanding from a single home on Fifth Avenue in Youngstown to group homes by 1986.
The GROWTH
Gateways continued to evolve throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s. In 1998, we broke ground on three new facilities, including a change of location for our Fifth Avenue site where Gateways originally began. With our mission to provide individuals with the freedom to live the most fulfilling, active and social life possible, Gateways chose to downsize its 32 bed facility. In 2002, we opened four, 8-bed homes across the area offering an exceptionally personal environment for residents.
As services started to change, Gateways led the charge. Our apartment facility opened with a Purchase of Service contract and grew into supported living. Today, Gateways provides Waiver services in both apartments along with numerous other area locations.
The Future
In 2006, we proudly unveiled an array of innovative day programming services at Gateways Industries, located on Rayen Avenue near downtown Youngstown. This day program is a part of our ongoing efforts to introduce new services that can be adapted and serve the unique challenges of the 21st century. For four decades, Gateways has provided the best possible care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and we intend to maintain this excellence of care as our services expand.
