Lebanon County Day Reporting Center Ribbon Cutting

The DRC Opens Its Doors

By Alli Kauffman | October 6, 2017 | view story on Facebook

LEBANON, PA — On Friday, October 6, Lebanon County officials joined a crowd of more than 50 attendees in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the official opening of the Lebanon County Day Reporting Center (DRC) run by Pennsylvania Counseling Services (PCS). The ceremony was held at the DRC building, located at 624 Cumberland Street in downtown Lebanon, PA.

The DRC is now open to Lebanon County nonviolent offenders who are referred by the court. Participants will report to the DRC for training in job skills, parenting skills, money management and other programs designed to enable long-term employment and readiness to participate in supporting themselves, their families and their community.

“The Day Reporting Center is a recognition of something that’s very, very important. Many folks go through the revolving door of the criminal justice system on a regular basis… The Day Reporting Center recognizes that we have to stop this.”

—PRESIDENT JUDGE JOHN C. TYLWALK
LEBANON COUNTY COURT of COMMON PLEAS

Other speakers at the event included Kim Ernest, vice president of criminal justice and recovery programs at PCS and the DRC, Congressman Frank Ryan and Lebanon County Commissioners Bob Phillips, Bill Ames and Jo Ellen Litz. Each speaker conveyed support and a sense of accomplishment in finally opening the DRC’s doors.

“Recovery is a matter of saying, ‘You matter. You’re a real person. You have something to offer. We’re going to invest in you, and we expect a lot from you,'” said Lebanon County Commissioner Jo Ellen Litz. “That is what I see this Day Reporting Center doing. I’m so happy and proud of everything that has come together today.”

The DRC is equipped with a computer lab, learning resources and invested staff members to help each participant succeed. According to Kim Ernest, the DRC is ready to receive referrals and start changing lives.

“At the end of the day, we’re extremely excited to open our doors to Lebanon County. The DRC staff is more than happy with the level of community involvement and support we received at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and we feel ready to make an impact in Lebanon County.”

—KIM ERNEST
VICE PRESIDENT of CRIMINAL JUSTICE & RECOVERY PROGRAMS at PCS