Barber National Institute

Barber National Institute
Founded	1952
Founder	Dr. Gertrude A. Barber
Type	501(c)(3) charitable organization
Location	Erie, Pennsylvania ; United States;
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	John Barber (President and CEO)
Employees	Over 2600
Website	barberinstitute.org

The Barber National Institute (formerly the Barber Center) is a nonprofit, multi-faceted organization that provides services to more than 5,370 children, adults, and families who are faced with autism, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral health challenges. The institute’s central facility was founded in 1952 and is located in Erie, Pennsylvania. The Barber National Institute now employs more than 2,600 staff members throughout the state.

History

Dr. Gertrude A. Barber, Founder of the Barber National Institute

The Barber National Institute was founded in 1952 by the late Dr. Gertrude A. Barber.^[1] An educator and administrator in the Erie City School District in Erie, Pennsylvania, Dr. Barber, along with a small group of local teachers and parents, opened a one-classroom school in the local YMCA for children with developmental disabilities. As programs expanded, the City of Erie leased its former communicable disease hospital to the Barber Center in 1958. The first permanent location for the programs, this site formed what has become the main campus in Erie. Construction began in 1968 for new Administrative offices, a medical suite, cafeteria, and classrooms for middle and high school aged students. In 1969, a facility was opened in Corry, Pennsylvania to provide services for individuals in southern Erie County. The Barber Center’s first group homes were opened in 1973, after the closing of an institution in Venango County, PA. A satellite center was also opened in Girard, PA to accommodate those living in the western portion of Erie County. The Barber Center expanded to other areas of the state by opening group homes and support services in Philadelphia in 1990 and a day support program and residential group homes in the Pittsburgh area in 1999.

Current

In 2003, the Barber Center name was changed to what is now the Barber National Institute. It currently serves 5,370 children and adults annually in locations across Pennsylvania. The 11th largest employer in Erie County,^[2] the Barber National Institute has approximately 2,600 employees. The Institute provides services in a variety of fields including Autism, deaf and hearing impairment, behavioral health diagnosis, and intellectual disabilities.

Accreditations and memberships

In 2008, was named as a Pennsylvania “School of Excellence” by the National Association of Special Education Teachers^[3]
Nationally certified Trauma-Informed Care Community^[4].
Approved Private School, Pennsylvania Department of Education^[5]^[6]^[7]
Member of the Pennsylvania Early Learning Keys To Quality (Keystone Stars Program)^[8]

Services and programs

Infants and children

An Autism Center for the diagnosis and treatment of Autism
An approved private school,^[9] which includes the eleven modern classrooms housed in their Elizabeth Lee Black School
Bright Beginning, offering early intervention for infants and toddlers in their homes or child care centers that include physical, occupational, speech, and behavioral therapies
Happy Hearts Child Care and Preschool, featuring “inclusive” classrooms for typically developing children and students with disabilities
A preschool program for children who are deaf or hard of hearing
A Mental Health Partial Hospitalization Program,^[10] which integrates mental health services into a child’s educational program
A summer camp for children and teens with autism spectrum disorders

Adults

Employment services including Supported Employment, offering training and placement for adults with disabilities in jobs in the community
Adult Day Services – Assists in vocational, recreational and social skills
ESO (Expanding Social Opportunities) – Recreational program in conjunction with typical peers at area colleges
Adult autism service that provides diagnosis, treatment and medication management

Residential services

Fifty-three group homes throughout Erie County, Pennsylvania, as well as 25 homes in the Philadelphia area and six homes in suburban Pittsburgh
Supported Living, where individuals reside in their own apartments or homes with staff support
Life Sharing through Family Living, a program administered through the PA Department of Public Welfare^[11] which enables an adult with a disability to reside with a family provider.

Community services

Several types of therapies, psychological and behavioral services, for example, its Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Program, family based mental health services and targeted case management for children with autism and their families.
Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic offering therapy and medication management to children, adults, and families in the general population.

Location and facilities

Facilities are located in Erie, Corry, Girard, and Warren, PA; Residential group homes and adult day services are located in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh regions.

Locations

Erie, NW PA, Main Campus Barber National Institute Main Campus 100 Barber Place Erie, PA 16507	Philadelphia, SE PA Barber National Institute Two Falls Center Suite 900 3300 Henry Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19129	Pittsburgh, SW PA Barber National Institute Adult Day Services 20 Emerson Lane Bridgeville, PA 15017	Pittsburgh, SW PA Barber National Institute Allegheny Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services 35 Wilson Street, Suite 103 Pittsburgh, PA 15223
Corry, NW PA Barber National Institute Adult Day Services 670 Sciota Road Corry, PA 16407	Girard, NW PA Barber National Institute Adult Day Services 1126 Lake Street Girard, PA 16417	Warren, NW PA Barber National Institute Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services 1003 Pennsylvania Ave West Warren, PA 16365	Erie, NW PA, Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic Barber National Institute Barber Behavioral Health Institute 1621 Sassfras St Erie, PA 16502

External links

http://www.barberinstitute.org www.barberinstitute.org (Northwest PA)
https://www.barberinstitute.org/location/pittsburgh-region (Southwest PA)
https://www.barberinstitute.org/location/philadelphia-region-overview (Southeast PA)
http://www.aspergersyndrome.org
http://www.autism-society.org
http://www.autismspeaks.org
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/
http://www.aamr.org/
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/ddmr.htm
http://eriecommunityfoundation.org/donate-today/?organization_id=6

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] ttp://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61819726.html

[2] Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership

[3] National Association of Special Education Teachers

[4] "National Council of Behavioral Health".

[5] PA Dept. of Education

[6] PA Dept. of Education

[7] PA Dept. of Education

[8] Pennsylvania Early Learning Keys To Quality

[9] PA Dept. of Education

[10] PA Department of Public Welfare

[11] PA Dept. of Public Welfare