DR GERTRUDE A BARBER CENTER INC
100 BARBER PLACE, ERIE, PA 165071842 www.barberinstitute.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: WE "MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE." WE PROVIDE CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH AUTISM, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND THEIR FAMILIES THE EDUCATION, SUPPORT AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO BE SELF-RELIANT, INDEPENDENT AND VALUED MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDE THE PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE THEM WITH WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION AND TRAINING.

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 ERIE, PHILADELPHIA AND THE 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.TO FURTHER ENHANCE OUR RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS, A NEW, FULLY ACCESSIBLE GROUP HOME WAS 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 CHOICES,- FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS GREATER INDEPENDENCE & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, AND -PROVIDE 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, GABC ALSO SERVES 38 ADULTS THROUGH A SUPPORTED LIVING PROGRAM. IN THIS PROGRAM, A SYSTEM OF COMPREHENSIVE 'SUPPORTS' ARE PROVIDED TO ASSIST AND ENABLE ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR OWN HOMES OR APARTMENTS WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF FULL-TIME/ON-SITE STAFF. INDIVIDUALS ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN RESIDENCES, WITH SOME EVEN PURCHASING THEIR OWN HOMES. SERVICES ARE DELIVERED BASED ON INDIVIDUAL NEED AND INCLUDE: MONEY MANAGEMENT, SHOPPING AND MENU PLANNING, HOME MANAGEMENT, ACCESSING COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND ACTIVITIES. "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 INDIVIDIUALS TO FORM REAL FAMILY BONDS AND ENDURING RELATIONSHIPS. IT IS CONSIDERED TO BE A FORWARD-LOOKING AND FAVORED RESIDENTIAL LIVING MODEL. A TOTAL OF 34 ADULTS ARE SERVED IN THE ERIE AND PHILADELPHIA AREAS IN THE GABC LIFESHARING PROGRAM.

OUR PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN FOCUS ON EARLY DETECTION WITH 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 SEVENTH 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. APPROXIMATELY 516 CHILDREN RECEIVED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REHABILITATION SERVICES IN ERIE, WARREN AND FOREST COUNTIES TO CHANGE PROBLEM BEHAVIORS WITH A SCIENTIFICALLY-BASED TREATMENT APPROACH. 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 225 STUDENTS FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH AGE 21 WITH MULTIPLE CHALLENGES, INCLUDING AUTISM, CEREBRAL PALSY, AND, MULTIPLE DISABILITIES. FOR THE 14TH YEAR IN A ROW, THIS APPROVED PRIVATE SCHOOL, WHICH SERVES STUDENTS FROM 23 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. ONE OF THESE CLASSROOMS, OUR PRESCHOOL FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING, IS THE ONLY INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IN NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 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 12 YEARS WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN PENNSYLVANIA'S PRE-K COUNTS PROGRAM, RECEIVING A GRANT TO PROVIDE FULL-DAY PRESCHOOL FREE OF 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. -INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREATER AWARENESS OF THE FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS, WITH EXPERIENCES IN PLAY PRODUCTION, DANCE AND MUSIC DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT INCLUDE THE ERIE ARTS AND CULTURE, ERIE PHILHARMONIC, AND THE ERIE PLAYHOUSE.-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, PROVIDING EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS IN FIELDS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, SPEECH PATHOLOGY, OCCUPATIONAL/PHYSICAL THERAPIES, AND OTHER FIELDS.

THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF ADULT SERVICES IN THE ERIE, 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 TO OFFER 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 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 ALSO BECAME INVOLVED IN PROGRAM SEARCH, A NEW PROGRAM ANNOUNCED FOR THE START OF THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR TO PROVIDE 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 114 ADULTS WITH OUTINGS DESIGNED TO BUILD SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE NEW ACTIVITIES IN THEIR COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY HABILITATION SERVICES HAS PROGRAMS TO MEET THE UNIQUE AND CHALLENGING NEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 67 INDIVIDUALS WHO PRESENT WITH A COMPLEXITY OF ISSUES. THE LEVEL OF CARE IS INCREASED WITH A LOWER STAFF TO INDIVIDUAL RATIO VARYING FROM 1:1 TO 1:6 OFFERING INDIVIDUALS ENHANCED PERSONALIZED SERVICES FOR ASSISTANCE IN GAINING AND MAINTAINING ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS; ABILITIES BASED PROGRAMMING TO BUILD THEIR STRENGTHS, AS WELL AS VARIETY OF CHOICES OF ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES TO FOSTER INCREASED INDEPENDENCE. THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION PROGRAM THAT BEGAN IN PITTSBURGH IN 2009 CONTINUED TO GROW, OFFERING ONE-ON-ONE 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 HOME AND COMMUNITY HABILITATION SERVICES, 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.THE BARBER NATIONAL INSTITUTE IMPLEMENTED AN AFFILIATION AGREEMENT WITH BOLLINGER ENTERPRISES, INC. (BEI) TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN THE WARREN FORREST 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 50 ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN BEDFORD AND 55 ADULTS IN SOMERSET, PA.

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