Barber National Institute

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.

Barber National Institute
Founded1952
FounderDr. Gertrude A. Barber
Type501(c)(3) charitable organization
Location
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
John Barber (President and CEO)
Employees
Over 2600
Websitebarberinstitute.org


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.[2] The 11th largest employer in Erie County,[3] 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[4]
  • Nationally certified Trauma-Informed Care Community[5]
  • Approved Private School, Pennsylvania Department of Education[6][7][8]
  • Member of the Pennsylvania Early Learning Keys To Quality (Keystone Stars Program)[9]

Services and programs

Infants and children

  • An Autism Center for the diagnosis and treatment of Autism
  • An approved private school,[6] 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

Residential services

Community services

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

gollark: > mhmmm... but social aspect with other similar interest beingsI mean, sure, but you can get that without spending several thousand £ surely?
gollark: To be fair, meetings should be short and it's good to encourage this.
gollark: I mean, yes, more independence, but you would also get that from entering work in some way probably.
gollark: I don't LIKE papers. They are like ESSAYS, but bigger and thus worse.
gollark: University: on the one hand you apparently earn a significant amount per year more, yes. But on the other hand, universities involve significant hassle, you're not in the workforce for a while, they may not actually be very effective at teaching massively useful stuff, they're wildly overpriced, and they seem to partly be wasteful "positional goods".

References

  1. "About Questia | Questia, Your Online Research Library". www.questia.com. Retrieved Jun 17, 2020.
  2. "Cause opened for Catholic educator dedicated to those with disabilities". National Catholic Reporter. 2019-12-19. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  3. Partnership, Erie Regional Chamber and Growth. "Page Not Found - Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership". www.eriepa.com. Retrieved Jun 17, 2020.
  4. "National Association of Special Education Teachers: SCHOOLS of EXCELLENCE". www.naset.org. Retrieved Jun 17, 2020.
  5. "National Council of Behavioral Health".
  6. "PA Dept. of Education". Archived from the original on 2012-03-03. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
  7. "Pennsylvania Department of Education". Pennsylvania Department of Education. Retrieved Jun 17, 2020.
  8. PA Dept. of Education
  9. "Pennsylvania Early Learning Keys To Quality". Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
  10. "PA Department of Public Welfare" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
  11. "PA Dept. of Public Welfare". Archived from the original on 2010-03-11. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
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