PCC was founded in 1997 after countless hours of late-night and weekend discussions between like-minded parents of adoptive children with special needs. These parents were peers and fellow service providers… physical therapists, occupational therapists, credentialed teachers, professors, licensed therapists, psychiatrists, and more. We found that while our children were individuals, the challenges they faced in the community were similar; and the challenges we faced towards meeting their needs were similar. The service interventions our children were receiving from usual community providers (education, mental health, medical, social services, recreational, religious, etc.) were significantly behind scientific research in quality, kind, frequency, and duration.

Our children were struggling; our families were suffering from trying to coordinate with multiple service providers from all over the community … while dealing with the unique challenges faced by families who include multiply impacted children from difficult beginnings. Over time, the discussions became dreams, then goals of developing a cooperative where we pooled our personal and professional resources towards meeting the needs of our collective children.

We used the principles of trust-based relational Interventions and focus on building character, competence, self-regulation, and bonding. Our children were educated in small groups with a plethora of accommodations to ensure they could meet their learning potential. They participated in daily tapping, brain gym, aerobic exercise, and sensory diets. During any given week, each child received between eight and twelve hours of clinical intervention time. Learning, processing, sensory-motor, speech, and physical therapy interventions occurred consistent with scientific research regarding optimal kind, frequency, and duration (all under the supervision of licensed and credentialed professionals). This site offers information about what we are doing today at The Parent Cooperative Community. Unfortunately. It does not give browsers an adequate picture of the heart, soul, and labor invested every day by parents on behalf of the children we love.

As a founder, I am so proud and blessed to be a part of what went on in the day treatment and residential programs. I am even more excited about our new venture into outpatient, community and home-based services. Our children are healing, growing, and learning. Our families are developing skills and resources. Most importantly, we are a community. Children and parents have peers (who’ve experienced similar challenges) to connect with in good times and in hard times. Graduates of ten and 15 years regularly stop in to offer support and inspiration or receive it. Involved families celebrate birthdays and holidays together. Our kids have slumber parties. They camp and vacation together with peers and adults who understand them, know how to support them, love them, and celebrate them.

I am absolutely convinced that community is the most important factor in healing families who adopt youngsters from traumatic beginnings.