Introduction

 

The Margaret Murphy Center for Children (MMCC) was opened in the fall of 2000 to provide services to children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other developmental disabilities aged 18 months to 14 years. In the fall of 2004, MMCC expanded, opened a second location, and now also serves students up to age 20. The idea to open MMCC was born when Michelle Hathaway and Tiffany Haskell Lehigh were touring programs throughout New England and realized that although these facilities were adequate, there was much room for improvement. MMCC was created with the goal of providing the best services a child and family could receive and that remains the objective of everyone involved with the Center.

 

Program Philosophy

 

The program philosophy of MMCC emphasizes the importance of creating positive learning environments and providing supports to children and adolescents with developmental delays. Support plans are designed to enable students to learn meaningful skills and build positive social relationships with their families, friends, peers, support providers, and other members of their communities. The focus of MMCC lies within the broad process of assisting students acquire adaptive and socially meaningful behaviors and to overcome patterns of maladaptive and stigmatizing behaviors.

 

Positive Behavioral Support methodologies are used to increase appropriate pro-social behavior and to simultaneously decrease maladaptive interfering behaviors. The effectiveness of a Positive Behavioral Support Plan reflects the extent to which the plan a) is based on the results of Functional Behavior Assessments, b) is consistent with fundamental principals of behavior and learning theory, c) is a good conceptual “fit” with the values, resources, and skills of the providers in the setting, and d) includes on-going objective evaluation to determine the effectiveness of interventions.

 

Referral and Admission Process

 

Students are referred to MMCC through the PET (Pupil Evaluation Team) process within their local/sending school district. The PET determines that the public school or current setting is unable to provide an appropriate educational program for the student and refers the student to a more restrictive educational setting. MMCC is a Special Purpose Private School and Licensed Day Treatment Program. Clinicians on the MMCC Admissions Team review referrals and choose new students based on appropriate peer matches and openings within the program. School districts complete a Request for Consideration of Placement packet. Upon acceptance, families complete the Intake Packet. Transition plans to enter the school are highly individualized.