Two area organizations that serve the needs of children with disabilities are considering a merger to better serve the community.
Representatives from both the Children's Development Center, also known as the Lycoming County Crippled Children's Society, 625 W. Edwin St., and Hope Enterprises Inc., 2401 Reach Road., signed a formal letter Friday afternoon at Hope's headquarters, expressing their interest in merging.
Thomas Burkholder, a past chairman of the CDC's board, called Friday a "great day" for Hope Enterprises and the Children's Development Center.
"The affiliation would bring the services of occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech into Hope's already existing programs and expand (the Development Center's) reach into Hope's facilities in other counties," Burkholder said. "Both programs provide separate preschool and early home education programs that could be combined into a more streamlined and focused educational model."
Mark Stamm, a Children's Development Center board member, said that the merger could create one place for people to find services from birth through preschool, school-age and adult life.
"I see an opportunity to broaden the kids we are serving," Stamm said. "We could provide comprehensive services over a lifetime."
He said the merger would be positive also because the local dollars used to run the organizations could be focused more on serving the children than on administrative costs.
Barry Rake, the board president of the Children's Development Center, called the meeting a special moment.
"Today is a very important time in history for both non-profits," Rake said.
The merger, he said, could make both organizations more effective.
Jim Campbell, president of Hope Enterprises, focused on the experience both organizations could bring.
"Blending two long-term organizations provides a wealth of experience," Campbell said.
He talked about a service comparison from the two organizations.
Hope Enterprises and the Children's Development Center provide mostly different services.
The former offers home visits in Lycoming and Northumberland counties from birth to 3 years old. It also offers adult training program, vocational rehabilitation, industrial work center, employment services and residential services.
The Children's Development Center offers occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, pediatric neurology and teen link.
Both programs offer early learning in Lycoming County for 3- to 5-year-olds and transitional services.
"It's a perfect alignment," Campbell said. "They seem to complement each other well. It will prove to be a tremendous asset."
Five aspects that Campbell wants to give due diligence are service, financial, human resources, technology and facilities - because both organizations have ample ones.
"We're gonna get a good look at each other," he said. "We'll know how best to move forward. The number one thing will be quality of service for the board members, the parents and the served. The quality has to be there."
The Children's Development Center originally was founded as the Lycoming County Crippled Children's Society in 1923 to help one young man with polio, Burkholder said. It now is a not-for-profit organization providing individualized services to children with special needs.
Hope Enterprises began in 1952 to provide services for individuals with development disabilities. It now is a comprehensive service provider.
