CPARC The ARC of Cumberland and Perry Counties
The History of CPARC
The Arc of Cumberland and Perry Counties (CPARC) was formed as Cumberland County Association for Retarded Children in 1953. It was the lack of services available to people with mental retardation that provided the impetus for a small group of parents to band together to organize the Association now known as CPARC. At that time, the only option for parents of children with disabilities was to place that child in a state institution. Both children and adults with disabilities were systematically denied educational opportunities, vocational training jobs, housing and almost every other right and service that people without disabilities took for granted. CPARC's constructive action to develop needed services preceded chronically as follows.

HISTORICAL TIME LINE
1957 Bonnie Nursery and Industries Ltd. (predecessors to the Pollock Center for Industrial Training) open in Carlisle.
1960 Industries Ltd. expands to West Shore Area.
1967 Bonnie Nursery opens in Camp Hill.
Industries Ltd. expands to Shippensburg.
1969 Bonnie Nursery establishes a center in New Bloomfield, Perry County.
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1970 CPARC opens first community residential living facility in the Commonwealth.
Industries Ltd. expands to New Bloomfield.
1971 Residential apartment program opens in Carlisle.
1973 Second group home opens in Mechanicsburg.
1974 Adds a workshop in Mechanicsburg and a nursery in Shippensburg.
1975 Advocacy Program starts.
Home purchased in New Cumberland to establish our third residential facility.
1976 Evaluation Center of Industries, Ltd. opens.
Opens Elderly Day Activities Program for older people who need day services.
Establishes Educational Services Child Development Center in Perry County. Capital Area Intermediate Unit takes over Bonnie Nursery Program.
1977 Opens two Children’s Residential Programs in Camp Hill.
Adds Food Service Training Program to Industries Ltd.
1978 Day Care Services added to Perry County Child Development Center.
Family Education Program starts.
Plans to build a new Industries Ltd. employment training center developed.
Third Children’s Residential Program established in Camp Hill. Began West Shore Apartment Program, expanding services already established in Carlisle.
1979 $444,000 Capital funds Drive completed. Ground breaking for new Industries Ltd. facility.
Mini-School opens in Perry County. Appalachian Regional Commission grant ends; Pre-School Program closes.
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1980 Dedication ceremonies and occupancy of the new $1,000,000 Vocational Rehabilitation Facility in
Mechanicsburg, PA – changed name to Center for Industrial Training.
Fourth Children’s Program, Staff Intensive Unit, opens in Lemoyne providing services to teenagers with behavioral problems.
1981 Carlisle Apartment Cluster established providing closer supervision for some apartment individuals.
1982 Newville and Mt. Holly Group Homes established to provide residential program for adults with a history of long-term institutionalization.
Formulation of Book-of-the-Month Club workstation to provide industry-integrated vocational training.
1983 Closing of Shippensburg Satellite Workshop.
Purchase of apartment building on West Louther Street, Carlisle begins CPARC owned apartment cluster program.
Janitorial/Maintenance program becomes an "Affirmative Industry" named Central Penn Maintenance. This provides additional opportunities for people with disabilities to secure competitive employment.
1984 CIT Building Expansion Project begins to provide an additional seventy-five employment opportunities for disabled individuals. $200,000 Capital Funds Drive completed. Dedication ceremonies held and occupancy of new 8700 square foot addition in September.
Group home awarded to CPARC for three individuals residing in Pennhurst, an institution for people with mental retardation.
1985 Development and implementation comprehensive long range plan.
1987 Association implements staff retention program.
Continued expansion of industry integrated opportunities to seven worksites at local industries and businesses.
Residential Services adds a Family Living Program to its continuum of services.
Perry County Day Care adds before and after school child care program to its array of services. Expansion of pre-school program to Shermans Dale.
1988 Residential expansion to Dauphin County with development of two group homes.
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1990 Residential group home opens in Perry County.
1991 Clustered apartment program opens in Mechanicsburg offering supported apartment living to individuals who need limited support.
1992 Supported Living Program opens in Carlisle promoting maximum independence of those served.
1997 CPARC/CIT establishes affirmative industry in the food service department at Quaker Oats, Inc.
Residential Services offers Community Support Program to provide services for individuals who remain in their current living arrangement. Group Home opens in Middlesex Township.
CPARC hires second, full-time advocate.
1998 Residential Services opens third group home in Dauphin County.
Perry County Day Care expands program to provide infant care.
Residential Services opens a small home in Lemoyne, serving two gentlemen.
CPARC/CIT plans a $1+ million dollar capital campaign to expand CIT by 12,000 square feet.
1999 Further expansion of Residential Services in Dauphin County by opening of three group homes and an apartment program.
Began funds drive for $1.4 million CIT capital campaign to add parking, expand the center, improve the building, and ensure the safety of those served. Began construction.
Developed computer network of main frame and PCs linking 150 employees in 20 locations to the central administrative offices.
Renaming of Elderly Day Activities to "Life Time Adult Day Care". Program locates new site for Camp Hill facility.
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2000 Dedication of CIT’s building addition, and renaming to the S. Wilson Pollock Center for Industrial Training
2001 Expansion of Advocacy by addition of a part-time advocate.
2004 Commerce Bank donates land for CPARC to build our own Administrative Office.
Hanover Street Neighbors Program, a collaborative effort between families, CPARC & UCP opens in Carlisle. 
G. B. Stuart Charitable Foundation purchases naming rights to CPARC's Administrative, Advocacy & Residential Services Office building. 
2005 GB Stuart Center is dedicated as CPARC's new administrative office building.
2008



2009
 


A second Neighbors Program, Mechanicsburg Neighbors, opens on Simpson Street in Mechanicsburg.  The program is another collaborative effort with UCP, Central PA 

Formal name change to The Arc of Cumberland & Perry Counties

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In the future, CPARC’s role as an advocacy organization will continue to expand. CPARC’s services will also grow to improve and protect the quality of life for all people with mental retardation living in our community.

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may be obtained from the PA Department of State by calling 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
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