Every year The Harris Center staff is encouraged to submit applications for funding to support programs that will continue to positively impact the lives of those living in our community.
Since 2020, The Harris Center Foundation has supported 22 projects and awarded $574,105 in project support to date.
Some of the projects that have been funded are described below.
The Resiliency Team ($65,840)
The Harris Center Resiliency Team consists of 25 trained employees specializing in critical incident stress management (CISM). The team offers supportive process groups, debriefing, crisis counseling, and referrals to help individuals and communities heal. They have received two grants from the Foundation
EmpowerHer Workshop ($20,000)
The "EmpowerHER" workshop, launching in January 2025, will bring together teen girls and their parents to focus on personal growth and family communication. It covers three key areas: building confidence, promoting mental and physical well-being, and offering tools for managing family dynamics. The workshop aims to foster stronger relationships and healthier self-perceptions in a supportive environment.
PAWS - Animal Assisted Services ($40,000)
The PAWS Program has been made possible by the generous support of The Harris Center Foundation. The program utilizes animals, many of which have their own impactful stories, to teach Harris Center clients lessons in empathy, resilience, reaching out for help and supporting each other.
The PBS Enhancement Projects ($59,294)
PBS 1.0: Grant funding supported the purchase of ABA Skill Assessments, caregiver training manuals, and the creation of a sensory waiting area. ABA Skill Assessments help providers create individualized treatment plans based on strengths and goals. Caregiver training manuals offer structured guidance for managing disruptive behaviors in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The sensory waiting room provides a calming space that enhances sensory stimulation, learning, and play, while helping to reduce behavioral issues.
PBS 2.0: The Foundation grant has given the behavioral staff at The Harris Center a rare opportunity to receive training in the most current treatments and research. These new interventions are in current use to better serve our clients.
PBS 3.0: PBS 3.0 utilizes an alternative way of learning by implementing a Virtual Reality (VR) platform in conjunction with therapy to allow neurodivergent individuals to insert themselves into various situations, no matter where the individual is physically. One of the primary benefits of integrating VR technology into therapeutic environments is that it provides interactive learning, enabling the individual to have control of his or her learning process by using evidence-based and client interfaced modules to teach different life skills.
Coffeehouse Co-op Academy ($35,000)
Coffeehouse Co-op Academy is a collaborative program with the goal of teaching, applying, and generalizing critical social skills into the real world. The program culminates in the end of the year Blueprint market highlighting the abilities of people with autism and IDD.
