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The Early Years
Development of the Family Focus Programs
The Move to Cold Soil Road
The Adult Life-Skills Program
The Growth of Technology Dissemination
Facilities Expansion 1994-97
The Early Intervention Program
Recognition of PCDI's Contributions
Program Accreditations and Affiliations
The Early Years
The Institute was founded in 1970 by Peggy
W. Pulleyn and Pamela Machold, grandmother and mother of a young boy with
autism. When they were unable to locate appropriate, non-institutional
services in New Jersey, they launched a national search that culminated
in the selection of a science-based intervention model--applied behavior
analysis. PCDI was the first community-based program in the State that
was specifically designed to provide intervention for children with autism.
Development of the Family Focus Programs
Initially, PCDI offered only a special education program. In 1975, after
Drs. Patricia J. Krantz and Lynn E. McClannahan assumed directorship,
it expanded to include data-based teaching and treatment services for
both preschoolers and school-aged children, as well as individualized
parent support and home programming services. Many children who received
early intervention were mainstreamed to public school classrooms, often
at their appropriate grade levels. Others, who came late to treatment,
or who presented chronic patterns of self injury or aggression, progressed
more slowly. As some of them arrived at puberty and continued to display
severe behavior problems, they were no longer able to live at home with
their own families. But neither parents nor Institute personnel believed
that institutional placement was a viable alternative for these young
people who had made significant progress in many areas. Thus, in 1977,
PCDI opened Family Focus, the first community-based, family-style group
home for youths with autism in New Jersey.
The design of the Family Focus Program is unique for several reasons.
There is no shift staff, nor is there an awake night staff; instead, the
teaching parents (a married couple) live in the home and assume all of
the responsibilities of parents, as well as the responsibilities of therapists.
For example, they prepare family-style meals, make doctor and dentist
appointments, shop for groceries and clothing, attend to housekeeping
and home repairs, care for lawn and garden, and teach young people with
autism to do these activities. The house is not a "mini-institution,"
but a home that is typically furnished and similar to other single-family
residences in our area. The Family Focus programs are not at all akin
to the typical "mom and pop" group homes that are well-meaning
but often ineffective. Like other branches of PCDI's programs, the Institute's
group homes offer science-based intervention and are accountable for intervention
effects--that is, program personnel accept responsibility for helping
people with autism achieve positive, socially significant behavior change.
With support from a National Institute of Mental Health grant and from
the New Jersey Department of Human Services, the Family Focus model of
group home treatment was replicated four times and in 1983, under PCDI's
auspices, a fifth replication home, Family Focus at Mountainview, opened
its doors. Subsequently, this model of professionally-staffed, family-style
treatment has been shared with many other agencies, in the United States
and in other countries.
The Move to Cold Soil Road
During the early years, the Institute's headquarters and school programs
occupied leased facilities, but 1983 marked the beginning of a capital
campaign to purchase land and construct a new building at 300 Cold Soil
Road, Princeton.  The
new quarters were especially designed to meet the education and treatment
needs of children with autism, and to facilitate professional training
and research on autism intervention. Members of the Board of Trustees
actively solicited potential donors, enlisted the support of community
leaders, and conducted several benefits. In addition, grants were received
from The Kresge Foundation, the New Jersey Department of Human Services,
and many local foundations. The new building was dedicated in 1985; all
necessary funds were raised, and neither long- nor short-term financing
was necessary.
The Adult Life-Skills
Program
 In
1984, when the first young person completed his schooling at PCDI but
needed continuing intervention, the Institute embarked on the development
of a program for adults with autism. The model features supported, competitive
employment. Skilled PCDI professionals provide job coaching and ensure
effective work performance; in addition, they teach "life skills"
such as money management, good grooming, menu planning, and use of leisure
time. Some enrolled adults hold word-processing and data-entry jobs in
corporate environments; others work in industry, in hotel housekeeping,
and in the grounds maintenance department of a local college. Through
income-tax payments, reduced SSI benefits, and employer tax credits, these
workers with autism contribute to levels of cost effectiveness that are
superior to the costs of maintaining people in sheltered settings, while
simultaneously enjoying the benefits of increased independence and social
integration.
The Growth of Technology
Dissemination
After the Institute moved to its new location on Cold Soil Road in 1985,
requests for training and technical assistance burgeoned. The demand for
technology dissemination set the stage for careful, ongoing examination
of variables that are critical to program replication. Over a period of
years, it was noted that those new programswith greatest fidelity were
most often achieved by professionals who, after significant periods of
training and mentoring at the Institute, received technical support from
PCDI during the first, formative years of their new agencies. On the basis
of these findings, the Institute expanded opportunities for doctoral students
and young professionals to pursue residencies at PCDI, and committed more
monetary and personnel resources to technology dissemination.
Facilities Expansion
1994-97
 In
1994, the Institute inaugurated A Campaign for PCDI. This fund-raising
endeavor targeted $2.5 million for the addition of approximately 13,000
square feet (more than doubling the existing space), and $.5 million to
foster the Institute's mission "to provide quality treatment, education,
and training, and through research, to pioneer comprehensive intervention
models that can be used nationally and internationally for the benefit
of persons with autism." Chairs of the Parent, Staff, and Board Gift
Committees made individual contacts with prospective donors in each of
these categories, and 100% of parents, staff members, and trustees supported
the campaign.
The respected architectural firm of Ford Farewell Mills and Gatsch designed
north and south additions that adjoin and complement the original structure;
the exterior appearance is in keeping with the semi-rural character of
the neighborhood. The building won a highly prized architectural award.
The new facilities were completed in 1997, again with no outstanding debt.
Members of the Board of Trustees secured many pledges from individual
and corporate donors, and these contributions were supplemented by a major
grant from The Kresge Foundation, as well as grants from many other foundations.
PCDI often welcomes visits by architects and intervention professionals,
and the facilities have served as a model for other programs in New Jersey
and elsewhere.
The Early Intervention
Program 
The 1997 program year was also noteworthy because it marked the opening
of the Early Intervention Program, which serves children 24 months or
younger at the time of program entry. The program is based on parent-professional
partnership; toddlers and their parents receive regular services at PCDI
and Institute staffers frequently visit youngsters' homes. Intervention
programs focus on learning readiness, language, play, family participation
and social interaction, and daily routines such as eating, sleeping, bathing,
and toilet training.
Recognition of PCDI's Contributions
 Research
on program accountability led to the development of a management system
that ensures that current research findings are immediately implemented
to promote the progress of people in treatment. In 1993, almost two decades
of research on organizational and administrative systems, accountability
systems, staff training and mentoring, and program evaluation were summarized
in an invited article for the twenty-fifth anniversary issue of the Journal
of Applied Behavior Analysis (the premier journal of the field), which
recognized the Princeton Child Development Institute as one of three "enduring
programs" in applied behavior analysis. PCDI's work in developing,
analyzing, and improving human service systems has also been recognized
by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (commendation on research and
service to persons with autism, 1988); by the National Teaching-Family
Association (Outstanding Contributions Award, 1989); by the Norwegian
Association for Behavior Analysis (featured interview in Diskriminanten,
1991); by Developmental Disabilities Services Managers (Annual Award for
Outstanding Contributions in Management, 1992); by Division 25 of the
American Psychological Association (first Fred S. Keller Award for Distinguished
Contributions to Behavioral Education, 1994); and by the Association for
Behavior Analysis (Award for Enduring Programmatic Contributions in Behavior
Analysis, 1999).
Program Accreditation and Affiliations
Although the Institute is a private, nonprofit organization, it is part
of the educational system in New Jersey, and its preschool and school
programs are accredited by the county and state Departments of Education.
The group homes (Family Focus and Family Focus at Mountainview) and the
Adult Life-Skills Program are licensed by the New Jersey Division of Developmental
Disabilities. PCDI is a charter member of the New Jersey Center for Outreach
and Services for the Autism Community (COSAC). The Institute's professional
training and mentoring activities are facilitated by the Executive Directors'
academic appointments to the graduate faculties of Queens College of the
City University of New York, the University of Kansas, and the University
of North Texas.
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