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Description

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Porterville Developmental Center PDC is one of five California stateoperated facilities that serve people with developmental disabilities The center provides 24hour residential services for individuals who are developmentally disabled and have serious medical andor behavior problems for which appropriate services are not currently available through community resources

PDC is licensed by the California Department of Public Health to provide general acute medical services skilled nursing services and intermediate care services Individuals are admitted on referral by one of the 21 California regional centers The majority of individuals served at PDC have mental retardation and many have severe chronic medical or behavioral problems Over onethird of our clients require services within a secure treatment program These individuals are in the mild to moderate range of mental retardation have come in contact with the legal system have been determined to be a danger to themselves or others andor incompetent to stand trial and have been determined by the court to meet the criteria requiring treatment in a secure area

MISSION

The mission of PDC is to advance each persons level of independence through the provision of individualized supports This is done by the Interdisciplinary Team which includes the client the family or legal representative and PDC staff such as physicians psychologists nurses psychiatric technicians social workers chaplains rehabilitation and speech therapists teachers dietitians and pharmacists The team develops an Individual Program Plan using a personcentered planning process Services may include health care education work training employment selfhelp training and preparation for independent living as well as leisure activities behavior management and socialization skills development

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History

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Porterville Developmental Center is located on 600 acres in the foothills of the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains in Porterville California an agricultural city in Tulare County In 1945 the State purchased 1245 acres of land for 62850 for the future Porterville State Hospital The site was originally planned for the care and treatment of individuals with epilepsy but was redesigned as a treatment center for the mentally retarded Construction began in 1950 and on May 12 1953 then Governor Earl Warren dedicated the Porterville State Hospital PDC admitted its first 200 consumers on June 3 1953 The total population reached its peak in 1957 with over 2600 consumers

In 1985 the facility was renamed Porterville Developmental Center by the Department of Developmental Services to better reflect the purpose of the facility to care for individuals with developmental disabilities The Secure Treatment Program was developed in 1997 upon the closure of Camarillo State Hospital and Developmental Center At that time 200 consumers were transferred to PDCs Secure Treatment Program PDCs total population on October 26 2006 was 692 Population Trends

PDC employs a staff of approximately 1800 the largest employer in the city of Porterville The sprawling campus is like a city unto itself In addition to home residences and trainingwork sites the campus boasts an auditorium gymnasium athletic field swimming pool complex religious center education complex professional library two cafes crafts store fashion center police station fire station hospital maintenance shops and has its own water supply and power plant

In November 2006 construction began for a 96bed residential expansion in the Secure Treatment Program The expansion will include six 16bed living residences a recreation complex and a new entrance building Construction is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2008