About Us
Prospectus Berco is a private, non-profit organization
established in 1977 to provide services to men, women, and children with
disabilities and to the elderly in Berks County. A volunteer
Board of
Directors comprised of family members, business leaders, and other community
representatives governs the agency.
In March of 1977, Joseph Gousie and Jim Arnold, with a
group of volunteers from the Berks County Chapter of the Association for
Retarded Citizens, founded the corporation Prospectus Associates, Inc.
When deciding on a name for the corporation, Joe and Jim
looked for a name that would be meaningful, but at the same time would not
bring attention to the disabilities of the individuals, but rather their
abilities. The word prospectus was found in an unabridged dictionary in
Joe’s office. In addition to its normal use within the business community
and stock market, it had an additional meaning of being able to see the
potential in any circumstance.
Prospectus Associates, Inc. became a provider of
innovative services for people with developmental disabilities. The
organization grew and reached into five other counties besides Berks.
Eventually, it became apparent that people are best served in a county-based
system, so the services were turned over to local providers in all counties.
Today, Prospectus Berco, under the leadership of Jody H.
Wagner, Executive Director, provides many different programs and services
for individuals with developmental disabilities and the elderly in Berks
County.
Prospectus Berco is located at 840 William Lane, Reading
PA, which is home to our Adult
Day Services components, our Vocational workshop, our Senior Day Services
component, as well as our Fiscal, Residential, and Administrative offices.
Frequently Asked Questions of Prospectus Berco:
How many people do you serve?
How many employees work for the agency?
How is Prospectus Berco funded?
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The major portion of our funding comes from state and federal dollars
through Berks County MH/MR, and SAM, Inc. (Service
Access Management). Additional funding is provided through Berks County Office of
Aging, Children and Youth, fees for room and board, and transportation fees.
Does Prospectus Berco receive funds from the United
Way?
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No. Twenty-five years ago Prospectus Berco was founded as a spin-off of the
ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens), which was a United Way funded
agency. The ARC retained the United Way funds for their advocacy work while
Prospectus Berco chose to rely on governmental funding available for the
programs it operated.
Why does the agency need donations if the cost of
services are met?
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Prospectus Berco operates its programs and services within the budgeted
resources to meet programmatic needs. However, funds are needed for new
programmatic initiatives, physical site renovations, and upgraded equipment
to enable us to provide expanded or enhanced services.
How does Prospectus Berco measure the success of
its programs?
How does Prospectus Berco differ from other local
agencies that provide services to individuals with disabilities?
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There are several ways that Prospectus Berco differs from other local
agencies. We provide individualized services and supports designed in
response to the varied needs and interests of each person involved with the
organization. Prospectus Berco is the primary provider in Berks County of day
program services for people with severe mental and physical challenges. In
addition to our varied array of services for people with disabilities,
Prospectus Berco is highly regarded for the programs we operate for Berks
County’s senior citizens. Celebrating 25 years as a MH/MR service provider
makes us one of the oldest organizations specializing in residential,
vocational, and family support services for children and adults with
disabilities and for the elderly. Proudly, we have professionals who have
been employed at Prospectus Berco since it was founded 25 years ago, and 30%
of our staff has been employed for 10 or more years at Prospectus Berco.
This kind of experience and dedication says a lot about our organization.
Does Prospectus Berco have a constant source of
contracts to provide work?
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Prospectus Berco has a steady source of contracts, completing hand and
mechanized assembly and packaging processes for more than 50 companies
nationwide last year. However, we are always looking for more contracts
appropriate for individuals with limited skills, and contracts that allow
our workers to earn better wages and develop greater production capabilities.
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