Dr Gertrude A Barber Center Inc

THE DR. GERTRUDE A. BARBER CENTER, INC. (GABC) FULFILLS ITS MISSION OF SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH AUTISM, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES BY PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, RESIDENTIAL LIVING OPTIONS, CLINICAL SERVICES, JOB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, DAILY LIVING SUPPORT, SENIOR PROGRAMS, AND RESPITE CARE. THROUGH THE BARBER NATIONAL INSTITUTE FACILITIES LOCATED IN NORTHWEST, SOUTHEAST, SOUTHWEST, AND CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA, OUR ORGANIZATION SERVES MORE THAN 6,100 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH A COMMUNITY INTEGRATED APPROACH AND CONTINUUM OF PROGRAMS. OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN REACHING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL TO BECOMING VALUED AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.

RESIDENTIAL LIVING ARRANGEMENTS:THE GERTRUDE A. BARBER CENTER, INC. OPERATES RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY HOMES (RCH) SERVING OVER 325 ADULTS IN 97 GROUP HOMES IN THE ERIE, PHILADELPHIA AND PITTSBURGH METROPOLITAN AREAS. STAFF IS PROVIDED ON A 24/7 BASIS WITH SUPPORT SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN TAILORED TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL. AN APPROXIMATE TOTAL OF 1.8 MILLION STAFFING HOURS WERE PROVIDED DURING THE PAST FISCAL YEAR.RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS INCLUDE A FULLY ACCESSIBLE GROUP HOME CONSTRUCTED IN ERIE TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF ADULTS WITH SIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL CHALLENGES.THE GOAL OF ALL RESIDENTIAL LIVING ARRANGEMENTS IS TO:FACILITATE AND SATISFY AN INDIVIDUAL'S CHOICESFOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS GREATER INDEPENDENCE & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENTPROVIDE A STABLE, COMFORTABLE, AND LIFE-ENRICHING HOME ENVIRONMENT. ALL RESIDENTIAL HOMES ARE LICENSED AND COMPLIANT WITH APPLICABLE FEDERAL AND PENNSYLVANIA REGULATIONS WITH EXCELLENT SURVEY RESULTS. IN ADDITION TO THE TRADITIONAL GROUP HOME DELIVERY OF RESIDENTIAL SERVICES,. "LIFESHARING THROUGH FAMILY LIVING" (LIFESHARING) IS A PROGRESSIVE, 'NON-TRADITIONAL' RESIDENTIAL LIVING ARRANGEMENT. IN LIFESHARING, ADULTS RESIDE IN THE HOMES OF THE PROVIDER FAMILIES AND BECOME PART OF THE FAMILY LIVING UNIT, ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO FORM REAL FAMILY BONDS AND ENDURING RELATIONSHIPS. IT IS CONSIDERED TO BE A FORWARD-LOOKING AND FAVORED RESIDENTIAL LIVING MODEL. A TOTAL OF 39 ADULTS ARE SERVED IN THE ERIE AND PHILADELPHIA AREAS IN THE GABC LIFESHARING PROGRAM.

OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE OPERATES A FORENSIC OUTPATIENT CLINIC TO PROVIDE THERAPIES AND MEDICATION MANAGEMENT FOR ADULTS MEETING REQUIREMENTS ORDERED THROUGH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. THE BARBER NATIONAL INSTITUTE OFFERS RECREATIONAL SUMMER CAMPS TO SPECIFICALLY MEET THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, AS WELL AS A CAMP FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS WITH HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM. THE CAMPS FEATURE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SWIMMING AND ARTS, AS WELL AS DAILY OUTINGS IN THE COMMUNITY. THESE REVENUES AND EXPENSES ARE INCURRED FOR OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GERTRUDE A. BARBER CENTER, INC. MISSION AND FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND INDIRECT COSTS. ADMINISTRATIVE AND INDIRECT COSTS ARE ALLOCATED TO THE PROGRAMS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

OUR PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN FOCUS ON EARLY DETECTION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUALIZED INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT PLANS TO HELP CHILDREN REACH THEIR GREATEST POTENTIAL. OUR AUTISM SERVICES OFFER STATE-OF-THE-ART INTERVENTIONS FOR CHILDREN AND SUPPORT FOR THEIR FAMILIES. AN ACUTE PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION PROGRAM IN SOUTHWEST ERIE BEGAN ITS NINTH YEAR OF PROVIDING INTENSIVE THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WITH SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES TO PREVENT ADMISSION TO A HOSPITAL OR INSTITUTION AND REDUCE RECURRING CRISES. OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS TRAUMA AND GRIEF COUNSELING, SOCIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, MOBILE THERAPY, AND FAMILY-BASED THERAPIES HELPED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES BETTER MANAGE CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS. OUR INTENSIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES (IBHS) OFFERS FAMILIES ADDITIONAL OPTIONS TO PROVIDE THERAPIES FOR THEIR CHILDREN IN HOME AND SCHOOL SETTINGS. ADDITIONALLY, OUR EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM PROVIDED SPECIALIZED THERAPIES SUCH AS PHYSICAL AND SPEECH THERAPIES AND NUTRITIONAL GUIDANCE TO 483 CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE THREE ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNTIES IN NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. WE UTILIZE A FAMILY-CENTERED APPROACH TO HELP INFANTS AND TODDLERS OVERCOME CHALLENGES AT AN EARLY AGE WITH THE GOAL OF REACHING THEIR DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES AND BEING PREPARED TO ENTER SCHOOL. THE ELIZABETH LEE BLACK SCHOOL (ELBS) AT THE BARBER NATIONAL INSTITUTE SERVES 377 STUDENTS FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH AGE 21 WITH MULTIPLE CHALLENGES, INCLUDING AUTISM, CEREBRAL PALSY, AND MULTIPLE DISABILITIES. FOR THE 17TH YEAR IN A ROW, THIS APPROVED PRIVATE SCHOOL, WHICH SERVES STUDENTS FROM 21 PENNSYLVANIA DISTRICTS, WAS DESIGNATED AS A SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS. WE ALSO PROVIDE PRESCHOOL CLASSES FOR "TYPICALLY DEVELOPING" CHILDREN WHO LEARN AND GROW ALONGSIDE THEIR PEERS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THE ELBS BEGAN PROVIDING TWO CLASSROOMS IN THE GENERAL MCLANE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SERVE ITS STUDENTS WITH AUTISM AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. UTILIZING OUR RESOURCES FOR THERAPIES AND OTHER SUPPORTS, OUR SCHOOL MAINTAINS CONTRACTS WITH THE ERIE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE PRESCHOOL FOR CHILDREN ELIGIBLE FOR EARLY INTERVENTION. FOR 13 YEARS WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN PENNSYLVANIA'S PRE-K COUNTS PROGRAM, RECEIVING A GRANT TO PROVIDE FULL-DAY PRESCHOOL FREE CHARGE TO 45 STUDENTS IN ERIE AND CORRY DETERMINED TO BE AT RISK FOR ACADEMIC FAILURE BECAUSE OF SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS. SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE ELBS INCLUDE:THE INCREASED USE OF TECHNOLOGY WITH IPADS IN EVERY CLASSROOM FOR TEACHERS AND THERAPISTS TO EXPAND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS. THE INTEGRATIONS OF PROGRAMS SUCH AS MICROSOFT TEAMS HAS ALSO ENABLED PARENTS TO BECOME BETTER INFORMED AND CONNECTED WITH THEIR CHILD'S TEACHER AND CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES. EXPANDED OPTIONS FOR LEARNING AND COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING THE INTEGRATION OF EYE-GAZE TECHNOLOGY THAT ENABLES STUDENTS WITH LIMITED PHYSICAL ABILITIES TO COMMUNICATE BY DIRECTING THEIR EYE FOCUS TO CHOICES ON A COMPUTER SCREEN.WE CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH ACCREDITED COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ON RESEARCH PROJECTS AND PROVIDE EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS IN THE FIELDS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, SPEECH PATHOLOGY, OCCUPATIONAL/PHYSICAL THERAPIES AND OTHER FIELDS.

THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF ADULT SERVICES IN THE ERIE, WARREN, PITTSBURGH, PHILADELPHIA AND CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA REGIONS, INDIVIDUALS HAVE A CONTINUUM OF CHOICES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUILDING SKILLS AND ACHIEVING GREATER INDEPENDENCE. WE ARE COMMITTED TO CARRYING OUT THE EMPLOYMENT FIRST RESOLUTION ENACTED IN PENNSYLVANIA TO MAKE INTEGRATED COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT THE GOAL FOR ALL PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. TO HELP STUDENTS PREPARE FOR EMPLOYMENT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, THE BARBER NATIONAL INSTITUTE PARTNERS WITH THE OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION (OVR) TO PROVIDE PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION SERVICES FOR YOUTH IN THE WARREN REGION THAT OFFERS JOB SHADOWING AND OTHER SERVICES TO PLAN FOR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT. THE SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM IDENTIFIED JOB OPENINGS AND COACHED ADULTS FOR EMPLOYMENT IN COMPETITIVE, MARKET-BASED JOBS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN NORTHWEST PA, PITTSBURGH, AND THE PHILADELPHIA AREAS. CURRENTLY, IN ITS PROGRAM, 114 ADULTS ARE AT WORK IN INDUSTRIES RANGING FROM FOOD SERVICE, MANUFACTURING, CHILDCARE, RETAIL AND JANITORIAL. MOBILE WORK CREWS FROM SMALL GROUP EMPLOYMENT SERVICES GAIN JOB SKILLS WHILE PERFORMING JANITORIAL AND LANDSCAPING DUTIES ON THE BARBER NATIONAL INSTITUTE CAMPUSES AS WELL AS AT THE ERIE FEDERAL AND COUNTY COURTHOUSES, STATE POLICE BARRACKS AND SEVEN OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COMPANIES. SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT JOB COACHES COMPLETED THEIR SECOND YEAR WITH PROJECT SEARCH, A COLLABORATION WITH OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT PROVIDES INTERNSHIPS AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR A GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS. THE BARBER NATIONAL INSTITUTE RESPONDED TO A SWEEPING CHANGE IN THE STATE'S INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY WAIVERS BY PROVIDING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS TO PARTICIPATE IN RECREATIONAL, VOLUNTEER AND OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THEIR CHOOSING IN THE COMMUNITY. IN PITTSBURGH, THE IN HOME & COMMUNITY SUPPORTS PROGRAM THAT OPENED IN 2009 NOW SERVICES NEARLY 79 ADULTS WITH OUTINGS DESIGNED TO BUILD SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE NEW ACTIVITIES IN THEIR COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION SUPPORTS HAS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS TO MEET THE UNIQUE AND CHALLENGING NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO PRESENT WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF NEED AND COMPLEXITY. THE LEVEL OF CARE EACH PERSON REQUIRES HELPS DETERMINE THE STAFF-TO-INDIVIDUAL RATIO VARYING FROM 1:1 TO 1:6. THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION SERVICE OFFERS INDIVIDUALS ENHANCED PERSONALIZED SERVICES FOR GAINING AND MAINTAINING ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS AND BUILDING UPON INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS. THE PROGRAM INCORPORATES COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AS A MAJOR FOCUS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THEIR OWN COMMUNITY, ACCESS COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ENHANCE INDEPENDENCE AS WELL AS EXPAND LIFE EXPERIENCES. ULTIMATELY, FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO EXPLORE COMMUNITY INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT, CPS OPENS COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS WHICH FOSTER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION PROGRAM THAT BEGAN IN PITTSBURGH IN 2009 CONTINUED TO GROW, OFFERING VARIOUS LEVELS OF ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP DAILY LIVING AND SOCIAL SKILLS SENIORS BENEFIT FROM A POSITIVE AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AT THE LAKESIDE SENIOR CENTER IN ERIE THAT OFFERS ENRICHING OPPORTUNITIES TO RETAIN DAILY LIVING SKILLS AND ESTABLISH STRONG RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH A VARIETY OF MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES. AS SENIORS, THEY FEEL A GREAT SENSE OF SELF-WORTH WITH THEIR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERING INVOLVEMENT. THE IN HOME & COMMUNITY SUPPORTS PROGRAM, KNOWN AS CLUB ERIE, HAS LOCATIONS ON THE EAST AND WEST SIDE OF THE CITY TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE ADULTS. THE COMMUNITY CENTERED, CONSUMER DRIVEN SERVICE IS CURRENTLY SERVING 122 ADULTS. IT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THE OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP SOCIAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND LEISURE SKILLS THROUGH A VARIETY OF DAILY ACTIVITIES, WHILE INCREASING THEIR COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM HAS A FOCUS ON PROMOTING VOLUNTEERISM, WITH ADULTS PERFORMING 200 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE ON AVERAGE EVERY MONTH FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF NON-PROFIT AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SKILLS ARE ALSO TAUGHT TO ENABLE INDIVIDUALS TO ACCESS COMMUNITY RESOURCES INDEPENDENTLY TO MEET THEIR GOALS. WITH THESE VARIED EXPERIENCES MANY INDIVIDUALS ACHIEVE A GREATER SENSE OF SELF-WORTH AND SELF-ACTUALIZATION AND MORE FULLY UNDERSTAND THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL.A MAJOR RENOVATION PROJECT WAS UNDERTAKEN AT THE BOLLINGER CAMPUS OF THE BARBER NATIONAL INSTITUTE TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN THE WARREN FOREST COUNTY REGION RELATING TO COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.FOR THE SECOND YEAR, THE BARBER NATIONAL INSTITUTE PROVIDED PREVOCATIONAL, COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION SUPPORTS PROGRAMS IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA, SERVING 33 ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN BEDFORD AND 44 ADULTS IN SOMERSET, PA.