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Chronological History of Lifesteps
1923
Attorney James E. Marshall founded Butler Crippled Children's Services
and began the eventual development of the Pennsylvania Easter Seal
Society. From 1923 to 1945, Mrs. James Lemmon, R.N., was hired as the
first
part-time employee. Rotary members and other groups sponsored events
to raise money
for Butler children.
1946
Direct services began.
1947
Parent Council Group formed.
1949
Speech therapist hired on a part-time basis.
1950
Physical therapist hired and a Physical Therapy program developed.
1952
Preschool for children with handicaps begun.
1954
Agency's first Executive Director was hired. The Agency was chartered
and affiliated with the Pennsylvania and National Societies for Crippled
Children and Adults, Inc.
1961
Through the efforts of a Parent Council Group, labor unions, and
individual gifts, property was purchased at 424 North McKean Street in
Butler, and the Agency had its first treatment center.
1972
A growing program required Agency relocation to the Butler VA Hospital
grounds.
1973
Agency chosen as a site for the Dantrolene Drug Research Project.
1974
Originated and implemented the Language Development Preschool Program.
1976
Agency certified by the National Easter Seal Society as meeting
the standards of excellence expected of rehabilitation facilities. Agency
also became a member of United Way of Butler County.
1977
The first satellite program in the southern part of Butler County
started. The program, known as Camp Mo-Go served any preschool-aged
child.
1978
Originated Readiness Program for preschool children.
Due to constant growth, the Agency underwent a major remodeling program
to be able to continue providing quality services. Staff now numbers
fifteen (15).
1979
The Agency was accredited by the National and State Easter Seal
Society's Program and Administration Standards and found to be in full
compliance with all requirements as a Rehabilitation Treatment Center.
1980
A second center was opened in Lyndora to serve as the Adult Day
Activities Center for adults with mental retardation. There are now twenty
(20) staff members working for the Agency.
1981
The Agency implemented a new department for Deaf and Hearing-Impaired
Services. The Butler County Society assumed the responsibility of administering
Easter Seal Services for Armstrong County with a clinic in Ford City.
1982
The Disabled Children's Program began operation as a contract for
the State Department of Health.
Another Preschool Program to service the learning disabled and socially/emotionally
disturbed child began.
1983
Recognizing exceptional growth and sophistication in programming,
a new position, Director of Clinical Services, was added to the staff.
1984
Preschool Programs were expanded. Formalized community screening
program, Child Check, implemented.
Continuing growth of programs has staff at 33 professional and support personnel.
1985
Community Outreach Program is added to list of services to provide
community-based experiences for adults with mental retardation. The Agency
adds another Van. The Agency receives large grant from Intermediate Unit
IV for preschool programs and equipment. A fourth center is opened, housing
the BEST II Program, offering extended day care services for adults with
mental retardation. A psychologist is added to the staff, which now totals
44 professional and support personnel in four centers.
1986
A satellite center offering preschool classes was opened at the
Hope Lutheran Church in Cranberry Township.
1987
The annual Softball Marathon fundraiser was initiated. Programming
for waiver clients at the Adult MR Center increased client load to 50.
1988
The first Geriatric Adult Day Care in Butler County was opened
by our Agency. A $75,000 grant from the Howard Heinz Foundation was
approved with the program operating in a building on Route 68 West by
the Butler
Farm Show Grounds.
The Agency purchased three acres of ground to build a new center, and
Indiana County was formally merged with Butler to form the Butler, Armstrong,
and Indiana service area. Staff totals 53 with six centers in three counties
and an $850,000 budget.
A Capital Campaign, "Building The Spirit" was established
to raise funds to construct a new central program facility to house all
programs.
1990
$1.5 million Capital Campaign goal reached through foundation grants,
business/individual donations, and gifts-in-kind.
1991
Completion of new 22,000 square-foot program center in Butler.
Building Dedication Ceremonies held
May 31, 1991.
United Way of Indiana County welcomed Easter Seals as its 17th member
agency.
1992
The Agency consolidated operations with Easter Seals of Beaver
County and was awarded the additional territories of Lawrence and Mercer
Counties. Easter Seal Centers, Inc. was formally incorporated with a
fifteen-member Corporate Board of Directors serving Butler, Beaver, Indiana,
Armstrong, Lawrence, and Mercer Counties. Administrative offices continue
to be housed in the new Butler Program Center.
Supported Employment Program is introduced to assist persons who are
physically challenged in Butler, Armstrong, and Indiana Counties in securing
competitive employment.
Over 1 million units of service delivered to 28,300 people in 1992.
1993
Celebrated 70 years of service. Tracking Rural Area Children (TRAC)
project began to identify and assess children from birth to age five
in areas of development. This program--Child Check--serves all six counties
through a 35-foot mobile van unit that travels to various locations screening
for delays.
Entered into a new realm of programming for adults with mental retardation
and opened the first Community Home in Beaver County.
Staff totals 120 in 6 counties with a $2.5 million annual budget.
1994
Effective September 1, 1994, the Agency became independent and
was renamed Lifesteps, Inc.
1995
Lifesteps expanded Community Homes into Armstrong, Indiana, and
Washington Counties and became a member agency of the Armstrong County
United Way.
1996
The Stroke Support Group was founded in Butler County and a $50,000
remodeling of the Beaver Center occurred.
1997
An ORGANIZATIONAL FOCUS was conducted by the Agency and the Board
of Directors, which resulted in reducing board size and other volunteer
related issues. The board also reaffirmed Lifesteps' commitment to all
the communities with the mission statement being revised to . . . "Helping
individuals and families with life’s changing needs.”
1998
Lifesteps continues its growth in community-based Family Services
with the successful grant from the Scaife Family Foundation to support
the FAMILY CARE MOBILE LIBRARY.
1999
In one of the most successful years in Agency history, Lifesteps
now has 420 staff, operates in ten counties, and has a budget in
excess of $10 million.
Lifesteps now operates thirty Community homes.
Lifesteps opens two new centers: The first satellite center in Armstrong
County called ACOR (Armstrong Community Outreach Center), and after completion
of a five month building and remodeling project, a $250,000 state-of-the-art
child care and preschool center. The preschool center is called The
Early Education Center (EEC) and is located in Butler County on the grounds
of the V.A. Medical Center.
2000
The Lifesteps' Multipurpose Center was opened and is utilized for
training, maintenance, historical files, and related needs. The Agency
now operates in 40 locations. Lifesteps is now doing Independent Evaluation
contracts in both Mercer and Lawrence Counties.
2001
Lifesteps receives multiple grants for preschool and child care
enhancement. Some examples include training for Butler County child care
providers and receiving a PA Cyberstart grant for computers in our preschool
programs in Butler and Beaver Counties.
2002
Lifesteps’ President and Chief Executive Officer, Daniel
E. Musko, announces retirement after 25 years of service.
Agency awarded a grant from Child Care Resource Developers (CCRD) to
coordinate a Butler
County-wide Council to develop a plan for improving the quality of early care
and education in Butler County.
Lifesteps begins doing Independent Evaluation contracts with Armstrong
and Indiana Counties.
2003
Karen Sue Owens, Lifesteps’ Chief Operating Officer and 16-year
Agency member, is unanimously elected by the Corporate Board of Directors
to become the Agency’s next President and Chief Executive Officer
effective July 1, 2003; a smooth and seamless transition was successfully
achieved.
Lifesteps began participation in Growing Together – a program
for teenage mothers and their children in foster care.
The first-ever Lifesteps’ Summer Festival at BeaveRun, attended
by thousands, was successfully conducted as a weekend fundraiser showcasing
world-class kart and car racing; Agency also selected to be a recipient
charity of Armstrong Cable’s Butler Area Merchant’s Auction
(BAMA).
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