Springbrook is a

not-for-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

located in

Oneonta, New York Oneonta ( ) is a city in southern Otsego County, New York, United States. It is one of the northernmost cities of the Appalachian Region. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Oneonta had a population of 13,079. Its nickname is "City of the Hil ...

. Initially, Springbrook was opened as an

orphanage An orphanage is a Residential education, residential institution, total institution or group home, devoted to the Childcare, care of orphans and children who, for various reasons, cannot be cared for by their biological families. The parent ...

in 1925 by Harriet Parish Smith and was known as the Upstate Baptist Home for Children. The home was established on a working 95-acre farm and also provided its young residents with an education.

History

In 1941, the Upstate Home was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization and would continue as a school and home for orphans until 1966, when its mission changed and it became a home which would provide residential and educational services to children with

developmental disabilities Developmental disability is a diverse group of chronic conditions, comprising mental or physical impairments that arise before adulthood. Developmental disabilities cause individuals living with them many difficulties in certain areas of life, espe ...

. The following year (1967), the Upstate Home became certified as a school and, in 1974, the first community residence for adults with developmental disabilities opened in Oneonta, New York. As of 2013, it is home to nine residents with special needs. In 1992, the organization opened its integrated (serving children with a without special needs) Kids Unlimited Preschool. In 1994, the Upstate Home began providing Day-Hablitation services for disabled adults and currently offers a variety of educational, occupational, and recreational supports for over 65 individuals. In 2006, the Upstate Baptist Home for Children changed its name to Springbrook in order to better reflect the services it provides. In 2012, the organization saw another major change as it purchased the building formerly home to the Saint Mary's School in Oneonta, New York. This facility allowed the agency to centralize much of its operations and administration and would become the home of the Day-Habilitation program—all of which had previously been located on the Main Campus and throughout the surrounding area. Another major change that occurred that year was the development of the Tom Golisano Center for Autism. The Golisano Program is a residential school program for children whose primary diagnosis is

autism spectrum disorder The autism spectrum, often referred to as just autism or in the context of a professional diagnosis autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental disorder, neurodevelopmental condition (or conditions) ...

Services

The organization is the leader in innovative supports for

disabled Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, se ...

adults and children and includes a variety of services, such as Consolidated Supports and Services,

Medicaid Medicaid in the United States is a federal and state program that helps with healthcare costs for some people with limited income and resources. Medicaid also offers benefits not normally covered by Medicare, including nursing home care and pers ...

Service Coordination, and Home and Community Based Waivers. Springbrook's programs include an integrated preschool, a residential school, adult community homes, site-based and community-based rehabilitation, respite, and recreational programs. All of these programs and services are conducted within the guidelines and regulations provided by the

New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities The New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is an executive agency in the state of New York, whose mission is to provide services and conduct research for those with intellectual disabilities and developmental disab ...

(OPWDD). Since the first community home for adults with developmental disabilities opened in 1974, there have been twenty-three others opened, distributed throughout Delaware, Otsego, Chenango, and Madison counties. Springbrook's community homes provide care and services for over 150 residents. As of 2013, Springbrook is the third largest employer in Otsego County and provides services and supports to over 850 adults and children with

References

{{Reflist, refs= {{cite web , url=http://www.springbrookny.org/index.php/who-we-are/ , title=Residential and Day Services for People with Developmental Disabilities | Upstate New York | Springbrook , accessdate=2013-12-16 , url-status=dead , archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216182156/http://www.springbrookny.org/index.php/who-we-are/ , archivedate=2013-12-16 {{cite web, url=http://www.opwdd.ny.gov/, title=Welcome to OPWDD - OPWDD, website=www.opwdd.ny.gov Non-profit organizations based in New York (state)