Founded in 1997, Professional Child Development Associates (PCDA) provides a range of clinical and intervention services to children, teens, and young adults with autism and developmental differences.
Recently, the Chair of its Board of Directors, Anne Perry, approached Jericho Road Pasadena for help in strengthening and enhancing the board.
“An informed and competent board is critical to any organization’s financial stability,” she says. “We asked JRP for guidance in creating four things: a matrix for Board membership, a set of committee descriptions, an online board manual and an onboarding plan for new members.”
PCDA was an early adopter of the DIR (Developmental, Individual-difference, Relationship-based) model, a paradigm-shifting approach that uses play to create growth for people with developmental delays. That connection attracted Perry, also an enthusiastic fan of DIR, to accept the Presidency of the PCDA Board. “At PCDA, I see my core beliefs put into practice every day with hundreds of children and young adults,” she says.
PCDA provides relationship-based, team-delivered services that support children, teens, and their families across areas of development. Services include occupational and speech therapy, child and family counseling, feeding and nutrition support, creative arts and music therapy, peer social groups, a specialized teen program, and assistance navigating care coordination and community resources.
In response to Perry’s request, JRP reached out to Leslie White, a non-profit and small business development specialist known for helping non-profits develop and enhance their efforts—including guidance in building and leading dynamic boards with quantifiable results.
The Board’s collaboration with White was rewarding. “We got a lot accomplished,” Perry says. “Projects that had been creating significant anxiety for me are now tangible products we can use for our future growth.”
The board is now also on track to strategically identify and recruit new members and provide comprehensive information to the whole group, ensuring strong involvement going forward.
White also found the collaboration rewarding, and gave special kudos to JRP for making it possible. ” Without their success in linking organizations with pro bono consultants,” she noted, “many of these great nonprofits would not be able to continue to do the work they do.”
Thanks to volunteer Linda Taubenreuther for writing JRP social media posts!