About: history, mission, why a bell?
Bell Socialization Services, Inc. has been a cornerstone of community support in York, PA since 1966. It all began with The Bell Club—a welcoming space for individuals transitioning from local psychiatric hospitals back into the community. Backed by the York chapter of Mental Health America and a generous donation from the York Jaycees, the early days were filled with warmth and connection through shared meals, social activities, and events hosted by local churches and civic groups like the Catholic Women’s Club, the Jewish War Veterans Auxiliary, and the Jaycees Wives.
(Why the name “Bell”? That’s a story worth exploring! Scroll down to learn more.)
As the needs of the community grew, so did Bell. In 1977, services expanded to support individuals with intellectual disabilities. By 1986, Bell responded to another critical need—providing shelter for homeless families in York County.
Today, Bell serves approximately 2,500 individuals each year through a wide range of programs focused on housing, mental health, and basic living supports. Many of these programs are licensed or accredited, ensuring high standards of care. With more than 40 properties across York County, Bell is deeply woven into the fabric of the community—empowering individuals to live fulfilling, independent lives guided by our Vision, Mission, and Values.
OUR VISION A community where people are valued and respected, and live with dignity.
OUR MISSION To provide an environment of support and empowerment where people can improve their quality of living.
OUR VALUES
Person-Focused—we respect each individual and work with each one to provide the tools necessary for success.
Diversity—we accept and celebrate differences and realize the world is a better place because of our individuality.
Non-Judgmental—we give our very best to every individual, every day, regardless of who they are or where they have been.
Sustainability—we look for ways to ensure our organization is here to efficiently serve the community for decades to come.
Casual—we create a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere that encourages individuals to be themselves.
Integrity—we act with the highest level of moral character.
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Bell Reflects Our Diverse York Community
Bell Socialization Services’ vision is (to be a part of) a community where people are valued and respected and live with dignity.
All people.
Diversity is one of our core values. We believe it is – and always has been – one of our biggest strengths in achieving our mission to provide an environment of support and empowerment. As we and our community evolve to move closer to our vision, we accept our responsibility to showcase, promote, and advocate on behalf of our employees, service users, and our York community in support of our mission.
Employment, and admission to and provision of services and referrals for individuals, is made without regard to race, creed, disability, union membership, high school equivalency, ancestry, national origin ( LEP), age, sex or sexual orientation.
WHY BELL?
The Mental Health Bell: A Symbol of Hope and Transformation
In early days, mental health care in the United States was often marked by misunderstanding, fear, and neglect. Individuals with mental illnesses were frequently confined to large, overcrowded asylums—isolated from society and subjected to harsh, dehumanizing conditions. Physical restraints like iron chains and shackles were commonly used, not as treatment, but as a means of control. These institutions, intended as places of care, too often became warehouses of suffering.
As public awareness and medical understanding of mental health began to evolve, so too did the call for more humane treatment. In the early 1950s, Mental Health America (then known as the National Mental Health Association) issued a powerful and symbolic request: they asked mental hospitals across the country to send in their discarded chains and shackles—relics of a painful p
On April 13, 1953, at the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, Maryland, these instruments of confinement were melted down and recast into a powerful new symbol: the Mental Health Bell. No longer tools of restraint, the iron was transformed into a beacon of hope, dignity, and progress.
This story deeply resonated with community members in York, Pennsylvania, who were working to create a local mental health resource. Inspired by the bell’s symbolism, they named their new initiative The Bell Club—a place of connection and support for individuals reentering the community after psychiatric hospitalization. That spirit of compassion and empowerment lives on today in Bell Socialization Services, where the bell remains a lasting emblem of our commitment to recovery, inclusion, and human dignity.
Cast from shackles which bound them, this bell shall ring out hope for the mentally ill and victory over mental illness. —Inscription on Mental Health Bell
For more on the history of Bell, consider purchasing* a copy of “Bell Socialization Services – The First Fifty,” a compilation by Ivan “Ike” G. Hileman, who retired as Bell’s executive director in 2017 after 40 years of service. Submit a request via the Contact page.
*$20 donation to Bell. Quantities are limited.