C-PARC Agency Overview

History

Cumberland Perry Association for Retarded Citizens was founded in 1953 by parents of children with mental retardation (www.cparc.org). These parents wanted something more for their children because at the time the only option for people with mental retardation was to go to a state institution (www.cparc.org). CPARC is a non-profit organization that provides facilities and resources for people with mental retardation. This includes a home, friends, and help when needed. This organization also helps their clients find work when possible, which helps to make them feel more accepted; they become active participants in their community. CPARC's clients are not exclusive to people with mental retardation. The organization also offers services to the elderly, young children and families of the people with mental disabilities.

Mission

The mission of CPARC is to help those in the community who are not able to function completely independently. They give back the respect and basic rights to their clients that society has denied them. By providing their clients with a home, a job and the care needed, the volunteers of CPARC help to make their lives more comfortable and enjoyable. As an organization, CPARC strives to integrate people with disabilities into the community in a constructive manner. Before CPARC opened, people with mental retardation were not able to have access to acquiring jobs or housing (www.cparc.org). CPARC works to give people with special needs the rights and advantages that people without disabilities take for granted.

Services Offered

CPARC is active in many different aspects of their clients lives. They make sure that they are treated with respect and are given the basic rights as any other citizen of the United States. They provide a day care for young children and a center for the elderly to go during the day. They also provide counseling for their clients and the families of their clients. Finally, they give their clients a home and help them to find a job.