32 Osgood Street, Andover, MA 01810

Tel:978-475-3806 (M-F 8am-4pm)

Fax:978-475-6288

info@theprofessionalcenter.org

About The Center for Child Development

Eliminating Barriers to Growth and Development: Our mission is to provide therapeutic and educational services for children of all abilities and their families, working with each child to develop to his or her full potential. We try to eliminate barriers to growth and development for children with disabilities and families coping with health issues and challenges.

The Center places children on a path leading to achievement by providing support services so that children of all abilities may remain in a secure environment, teaching parents and caregivers to be successful advocates for children, working to transition children to settings beyond our classrooms, and educating public organizations on how to provide continued community based support for children with and without special needs.

2008 Board of Directors:

Chair: Christopher Concheri, State Street Corporation
Vice Chair: John Roberts
Treasurer: Steven Caron, Old School Capital, Inc.
Clerk: Linda Sweeney
Director: Louise Borke, Executive Service Corps.
Director: Grace Clancy, Andover Pediatrics
Director: Peter Daniels, Devine, Millimet and Branch
Director: John DeCourcy, Bentley Associates
Director: Len D'Innocenzo, CRK Interactive
Director: Susan Johnston
Director: Robin Kahan, Tufts University
Director: Brian Latina, AGFA Corporation
Director: Susan Moloney, Executive Service Corps.

Our Staff:

The Center employs a staff of over 80 professionals in the Lawrence and Andover offices. We are pleased that most of our staff have been with us for over ten years. This dedicated group of individuals makes a tremendous difference in the lives of the kids and families of the Merrimack Valley. Our staff includes:

Developmental Educators
Certified Special Education Teachers
Registered Nurses
Physical & Occupational Therapists
Speech & Language Pathologists
Nutritionists
A Developmental Pediatrician
Bilingual Support Staff
Licensed Social Workers

Our staff is trained to serve children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, varying metabolic disorders, autism, and many more conditions, and equipped to handle children with feeding tubes, tracheotomies and seizures. We continue to make strides in equipping classrooms with "kid friendly" and adaptive equipment and developmental toys, and to serve an ever growing population of children of all abilities including those with complex needs, from Greater Lawrence, Boston, Haverhill, Lowell, the North Shore and Southern New Hampshire.

Our History: 35 Years of Caring, Service and Dedication

The Professional Center for Child Development (PCCD) was founded in 1973 as a private nursery school for disabled children. The program grew into a licensed chapter 766 school dedicated to teaching and caring for children born with severely disabling conditions or coping with behavioral issues. The Center added an Early Intervention Program in 1978 to provide outreach and education for infants and toddlers in the Merrimack Valley Area. In 1986 The Center moved to its current location in Andover, and in 1994 it opened a second location at 130 Parker Street in Lawrence. Additional programs and services have been added as well, such as the Two by Two Toddler Preschool Groups, a unique program that includes community toddlers and preschoolers with their disabled peers. The curriculum based, early childhood educational program also teaches acceptance and tolerance. In 2001, a Regional Consultation Program opened. This program provides respite funds for families, and expertise to health care providers, educators and social service agencies. PCCD now serves over 1,400 children and their families annually, including Lawrence, Lowell, Southern NH, Andover, North Andover, Methuen, Haverhill, Tewksbury, Dracut, Reading, North Reading and the North Shore area.

Goals and Mission: Our mission is to provide therapeutic and educational services for children of all abilities and their families, working with each child to develop to his or her full potential. We try to eliminate barriers to growth and development for children with disabilities and families coping with health issues and challenges. The goal of our Center is to provide parents and caregivers of infants and children ages birth to 8 years with therapies and education for their child or children that have special needs due to birth complications, genetic abnormalities, abuse, neglect or accident trauma. These substantial disabilities may be due to low birth weight, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism or other neurological conditions

Board of Directors

Staff

History