CEO Blog Archives - Penn-Mar

The Job That Shaped Me: My Time as a DSP

ggorham — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 21:02:26 +0000

How my years as a Direct Support Professional shaped the way I lead today.

National Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week (September 13-19, 2026) is a national observance celebrating the essential contributions of more than 1.3 million DSPs who support millions of people with disabilities nationwide. It’s an opportunity to recognize the dedication of DSPs and raise awareness of the essential work they do.

My wife, Terri, and I were DSPs in the 1980s, and it was the most important experience I’ve ever had.

In college, I knew I wanted to pursue a profession where I could be of service to people. I just didn’t know what form it would take.

Before our first job, Terri and I spent time with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Terri volunteered with Special Olympics, and I had always loved visiting two of my cousins who had disabilities. We had no fear when we started working professionally with the disability population because we just assumed we would find these same positive experiences elsewhere. And we did.

In the spring of my senior year, my family neighbor, Dr. Donald Rabush of McDaniel College, told us about a partnership with Target Community & Educational Services providing community-based services for children who were living in state institutions. Married only a year, we accepted his offer to move into a new Target home in Carroll, pursue our master’s degree, and support three boys with significant disabilities.

One of these boys was Michael James Pitts who would later move into a Penn-Mar home in 2009. I could not have known then how our paths would remain connected. In 2016, his parents, Kay and Jim, established an endowment in his name for the Advancement of Direct Support Professionals. Through it, Penn-Mar created its successful Career Ladders Program, a recruitment and retention strategy that enables DSPs to earn national credentials and commensurate wage enhancements while directly impacting the lives of those we support.

Our work in the Target home gave us an instant family and immersed us in a field that was just beginning to develop. Today, I tell Penn-Mar team members that their role is not to parent the adults they support because they are not working with children. Back then, our situation was different: we supported children with loving parents but also assumed some parental duties, including working with the school systems and making trips to the emergency room for stitches and seizures.

It was a time in our lives when we learned the most about ourselves. The work was demanding, but we considered it an honor. Being DSPs gave Terri and me the chance to reflect on who we were and how we could help others. That experience made me want to lead others in this work and began to shape a bigger question for me: How could I help make this kind of difference for thousands more? I could never have become CEO of Penn-Mar without that experience.

I still miss the hands-on, day-to-day work and problem solving through tears, laughter and everything in between. Those years gave me lasting empathy for our team members. I know how difficult it is when someone calls out and you have to work an extra shift. I understand the job’s many challenges.

While I am proud of what we have built during my tenure as Penn-Mar’s CEO, I am most proud when I see the people we support building lives they have chosen for themselves. Our mission is not measured by the number of houses we operate, or the money raised for our foundation. It’s about helping transform the lives of the people we support.

I will always consider myself a fellow DSP. I understand what this work asks of you, and what it can give back.

During DSP Recognition Week, I hope every DSP at Penn-Mar knows how deeply I respect the work you do. Decades after Terri and I first stepped into that home in Carroll County, I still believe what I learned there: being a DSP is one of the most important jobs anyone can have.

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August is National Make-A-Will Month

ggorham — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 22:09:05 +0000

A reminder to plan for the people and causes that matter most.

August is National Make-A-Will Month, a time dedicated to encouraging individuals to create or update their will to make their wishes clear and think about the people and causes that matter most to them.

According to a 2025 survey from Caring.com, only 24% of Americans reported having a will, down from 33% in 2022.

Without a will, state law, rather than your personal wishes, generally determines how your estate is handled after you pass.

It is understandable that many people put off estate planning because it can be a difficult subject to think about, and knowing where to begin can feel overwhelming.

To make getting started a little easier, Penn-Mar has gathered these free tools and resources to help you plan for the future.

For those who choose to include Penn-Mar in their estate plans, the Legacy Circle is our way of recognizing and thanking them for that commitment. It also connects people who share a belief in Penn-Mar’s mission and its future.

I see firsthand how essential individual donations, bequests, and grants are to supplement the government funding that helps us meet the basic needs of the people we support. Our Penn-Mar Foundation exists to ensure we have the additional resources needed to carry out our mission — creating bold new possibilities to help them live courageously in pursuit of their best life.

My wife, Terri, and I chose to include a gift to Penn-Mar in our will so that our support will continue beyond our lifetimes. That decision also made us part of the Legacy Circle, a community we are proud to join. This gift is our way of celebrating the lasting impact of a mission that has become a guiding force in our lives.

These transformational gifts are called “legacy” for a reason: they are an extension of who we are and have life-changing effects on generations to come. Planned giving is all about creating support that endures. I often imagine how our gift to Penn-Mar will one day impact the life of someone not yet born.

You don’t need to know today exactly what your future gift might look like. If you’re considering including Penn-Mar in your plans, we’ve gathered resources to help you explore your options. And if you’ve already included Penn-Mar in your estate plans, we’d love to know so we can thank you and welcome you to the Legacy Circle.

Make-A-Will Month is an important reminder that creating or updating a will is one way we can care for the people we love and continue supporting the causes that have shaped our lives.

Whatever your plans may be, I hope this month gives you a reason to start the conversation.

For more information about The Legacy Circle, Contact Jenn Hobbs at jennhobbs@penn-mar.org.

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The Numbers Change. The Mission Doesn’t.

ggorham — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 20:12:27 +0000

A tighter budget calls for thoughtful decisions about what matters most.

Gregory Miller
President/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services

Penn-Mar entered its new fiscal year on July 1 facing one of its tightest budgets in recent memory. Cuts in Maryland and flat funding in Pennsylvania require us to take a closer look at spending while protecting the services and opportunities at the heart of our mission. While each budget year presents its own set of challenges and opportunities, our mission to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) never changes.

The State of Maryland made several cuts to intellectual and developmental disability funding. In practical terms for Penn-Mar, the cut of 2% equates to well over a half-million dollars. That’s a big hit for our annual budget. And with no increase from Pennsylvania, we went through multiple budget iterations to determine how to do the same or more with less money.

Years of careful planning have positioned Penn-Mar to navigate this difficult budget, but it still requires us to make thoughtful choices. Our Fiscal Year 2027 budget identifies several capital improvement projects that will be temporarily deferred, along with a handful of other initiatives we’ve put on hold. We will revisit them throughout the year and move forward as funding allows.

Our team members remain a top priority, as they are the key to providing the highest quality supports to the people we serve. The budget preserves opportunities for performance-based compensation and continues our investment in the Career Ladders Certification Program for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) which has had a tremendous impact on our ability to recruit and retain our essential workforce.

We also need to ensure proper maintenance of our facilities in Freeland, MD, New Freedom, PA, and our new location in Westminster, MD, as well as 60 community homes throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Over the last four years, we have been systematically selling older homes purchased earlier in Penn-Mar’s history and replacing them with one-level properties that better support accessibility, mobility, and aging in place as the people we support live longer lives.

We recently closed on a new home in Pennsylvania after selling an older one to cover the purchase price. Our long-term goal is to replace older, multi-level properties with 4-bedroom, ranch-style homes designed around the current and future accessibility needs of the people living there. We are currently constructing a home in Maryland with that exact layout.

Keeping our properties current and in good working condition is a huge efficiency driver given Penn-Mar’s assets.

Penn-Mar enters this challenging year from a strong financial position. We currently hold $40 million in assets with just $6 million in debt, and most of our community homes are mortgage-free. By carefully paying down debt and reinvesting those funds, we have been able to improve properties while keeping our overall obligations manageable. We have also secured exceptional interest rates on borrowed funds.

Assistive Technology (AT) is another critical area high on our list of priorities. Even with less government funding, we still plan to utilize and enhance technology throughout the organization, an effort led by our new Chief Technology Officer, Audra Hurd, who recently joined our executive leadership team.

Government funding provides the foundation for the services we deliver every day, but it is our partnership with the Penn-Mar Foundation that allows us to go beyond those basics and invest in transformative, innovative initiatives that would otherwise be out of reach. Our commitment to expanding Assistive Technology (AT) is a prime example. Through philanthropic support, we can introduce technologies that enhance independence, increase opportunity, and improve quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Just as importantly, AT is an area that resonates deeply with many of our donors, who are eager to invest in solutions that create meaningful, measurable impact.

At the same time, we recently achieved an important milestone that reflects the quality of the services Penn-Mar provides. Effective July 1, Penn-Mar was designated a Select Provider through Pennsylvania’s Performance-Based Contracting program, moving up from our previous Primary Provider designation. This achievement recognizes our success in meeting higher performance standards and results in an additional 3% increase in funding for certain services. Earning Select Provider status is a testament to the dedication and excellence of team members across the organization, while providing valuable financial support as we navigate a challenging fiscal environment.

Despite the difficult budget realities ahead, Penn-Mar is well positioned to continue delivering on its mission of supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live courageously in pursuit of their best lives. Our strong financial stewardship, commitment to our team members, thoughtful investments in accessible homes and assistive technology, and continued focus on innovation give us confidence in the path forward.

Still, none of this work happens alone. We are deeply indebted to the advocates who continue to raise their voices for sustainable funding and to the donors whose generosity helps us move beyond what government funding alone can provide. Because of that shared commitment, Penn-Mar will continue creating opportunities for people to live with greater independence, inclusion, and possibility.

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Leading the Next Chapter of Innovation

ggorham — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:07:30 +0000

Providing people with IDD opportunities to live more connected, self-directed lives.

This month we hosted an Assistive Technology (AT) Showcase that highlighted the vital role technology plays in the growth of Penn-Mar and how it helps the people we support become more independent and better connected to their family and friends.

Technology comes at a steep cost — one that is not covered by ever-tightening government funding. But Innovation is one of Penn-Mar’s Core Values, and we are putting our money where our mouth is to invest in our future. Empowering Technology is a key focus of the Penn-Mar Foundation because we believe it will have such a huge impact on our ability to sustain and grow our mission.

That includes a commitment to investing in people who can ensure we’re at the forefront of how we’re using tech and information.

Over the last six years, Melanie Szvitich has been our technology champion, doing remarkable work to get us to where we are today. In anticipation of her retirement in September, we recently welcomed Audra Hurd to Penn-Mar’s executive leadership team as our new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). She has joined our tech team, overseeing all strategic technology functions to ensure our infrastructure remains secure, data-driven, and able to grow with the organization.

Most importantly, she will lead Penn-Mar’s Empowering Technology Initiatives, helping to put Penn-Mar at the forefront of assistive technology (AT), focusing on person-centered solutions that directly enhance the daily lives of the IDD community. By driving the expansion and integration of cutting-edge AT, she will continue Penn-Mar’s ongoing strategy of digital inclusion and create new pathways for greater independence, safety, and community connection.

In a world where information drives decision-making, managing data effectively can be the difference between success and stagnation. That’s why we hired Stacey Massuda as our new Data Specialist.

In this role, Stacey will gather key organizational data points to find out what is important to our stakeholders to help us improve our performance, operational decision-making, and mission impact.

At first glance, data may be perceived as boring and statistical, but it is essential to help direct the way forward.

Imagine the powerful impact data will have on our mission. We will be able to show donors how AT is improving the quality of life for a person with IDD not only via success stories, but through comprehensive impact measures. We have already seen that outcome-based metrics are a critical component in applying for foundation and grant funding.

Technology is changing the lives of the people we support with things as simple as Alexa voice commands to turn off the lights and reminders to take medicine or lock the doors to more complex solutions like apps on tablets that help non-verbal people communicate or the Smart Kitchen in our new Westminster facility that helps people prepare their own meals.

As we look ahead, one thing is clear: technology and data are not just tools for innovation at Penn-Mar — they are essential to expanding opportunity, deepening independence, and strengthening the impact of our mission.

By continuing to invest in the right systems, the right people, and the right solutions, we can help ensure that those we support have every opportunity to live more connected, self-directed lives.

The future is full of promise, and Penn-Mar is committed to leading the way.

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The Washington Heights Grand Opening: A New Home for Possibility

ggorham — Wed, 27 May 2026 11:41:19 +0000

Penn-Mar’s Washington Heights building will expand opportunity and independence in Carroll County.

May 13, 2026 was a day to remember as we celebrated the grand opening of the new home of Penn-Mar West – an innovative space that caters to the needs of our team members, families, and the people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) we support in Carroll County.

The opening brought together Caroll County officials, representatives from the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), community leaders, supporters, friends, and our extensive Penn-Mar family at a long-awaited ribbon cutting celebration. We expect to be officially operating in the facility in July.

The transformation of this flexible 7,000 square foot space features:

Bright open rooms for art, life skills, and enrichment

Quiet spaces for therapeutic activities and rest

Smart kitchen and washer and dryer

ADA accessible features for safe, inclusive care

Office space for team members

The star of the transformation is a fully accessible smart kitchen that we hope to replicate in our community homes in the not-too-distant future.

The smart kitchen, funded by Civitan and The Foundation for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (FCIDD), will allow people with IDD to be more independent, build their skills, and cook their own meals with confidence. This hands-on learning hub incorporates the latest Assistive Technology (AT) such as cabinets with pull-down shelves, stoves with sensors, and infrared features that allow a person to cook their food quickly and safely without using extreme heat.

In addition to providing a state-of-the-art space for the people we support and team members, the Washington Heights building will allow us to open services to people who previously couldn’t be supported due to Penn-Mar West being a 100% community-based program.

Penn-Mar West has always been rooted in community-based support. But team members and families made something clear: that model doesn’t work the same way for everyone.

Some people need a place to spend a few hours, drop in for a quick break or lunch, or just visit with friends. Creating that kind of “home base” was the missing piece to strengthen our service model and help us live our mission more fully.

Washington Heights will have a significant impact on the IDD community given the current realities:

77 people currently receive services in Carroll County

45 people with IDD receive fewer than 20 hours of support per week

15 families are on our wait list today

63 students are exiting the Carroll County school system and transitioning to adult services

We estimate our new center will allow us to support 50-plus families in the years ahead.

Thanks to the incredible support of the Kahlert Foundation, Penn-Mar received a $200,000 dollar-for-dollar challenge match that helped us raise $450,000 towards the new space during our March Gala. These funds, along with other organizational resources, including a significant grant from The Penn-Mar Foundation, are allowing us to operate a debt-free facility!

This vision was brought to life through the generosity of many partners, including The Kahlert Foundation, The Penn-Mar Foundation, Civitan, The Foundation for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (FCIDD), nearly 300 individual contributors, and the many people who believed in creating more opportunities for people with IDD in Carroll County.

We also extend our sincere thanks to Kinsley Construction Group, Warehaus Architects and Engineers, Penn-Mar’s Director of Capital Projects and Physical Assets, Will Cambley, Penn-Mar West’s Day Supports Administrator Danielle Gattine, and the Penn-Mar team members whose insight and collaboration helped shape a space designed to support independence, connection, and growth.

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Leading Courageously: Penn-Mar’s Blueprint for the Future

ggorham — Wed, 06 May 2026 19:23:39 +0000

Find out how we’re building the next strategic plan for Penn-Mar.

Gregory Miller
President/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services

As each new fiscal year approaches, many of us at Penn-Mar are already making notes of things we want to accomplish, attain, or do differently in the coming months. Setting more ambitious future goals often requires a structured plan to help track our progress over months, and sometimes even years.

For the last 30 years, we have been guided by a thorough Strategic Planning process. This important work continued in the last week of April when our Board convened to help us explore where Penn-Mar directs its efforts in the next 2-3 years, and how we continue growing in the ways that matter most.

But before putting the finishing touches on our Strategic Plan, we want everyone involved to weigh in before we ask them to buy in.

To help us create a realistic vision of how the organization can become more than we are now — and what actions will be required to make that happen — we scheduled experts from PAR (Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources) and MACS (Maryland Association of Community Services) to kick-off the Board meeting with an overview of the critical issues that confront our industry today.

In the months leading up to this meeting, our Directors and Leadership Team have analyzed our current Strategic Plan by charting our execution of strategic goals to-date and providing recommendations for new initiatives going forward.

Once the Board reviews these initial recommendations, they and the Leadership Team will form sub-committees to surface priority issues to ensure we focus on what is most important for the organization.

Throughout this process, we need to be realistic about the financial resources we can expect from our state and federal governments. Public funding continues to be restrained, and it’s important to factor that ongoing reality into our planning.

The State of Maryland recently cut our budget by 2 percent, which puts a tremendous burden on us to creatively cover the shortfall through private donations, grants, innovative programming, and cost-effective ways to meet our mission on a day-to-day basis. Continued support from our community has never been more essential, as these partnerships help ensure we can sustain the life-changing services Penn-Mar provides.

Retaining our amazing team members at Penn-Mar is a top priority. As our services evolve, finding better, more efficient ways to do our work will remain a shared priority across the organization.

One of the things we’ve learned over time is that the best strategic priorities don’t stay on paper. They become part of how we work every day.

Our “Belonging” initiative is a good example. What began as a focused effort to strengthen connection across our team is now part of who we are as an organization.

Right now, we are building a plan that strengthens how we drive change without losing sight of our core support. It lays out clear priorities and shared accountability across the organization.

We will be focusing on new strategies specific to technologies, data analysis, and efficiencies that will strengthen and equip our organization for the future.

Our current Plan established the need for us to develop a technology leadership position for Penn-Mar, and we subsequently equipped our residences with introductory Smart Home technology that is helping the people we support greatly simplify their lives.

These tech advancements are growing like a snowball rolling downhill, and we need to pay attention to what impact they could have on our services. And one can only imagine how Artificial Intelligence (AI) will enhance these services going forward!

To help the people we support Live Courageously, we need to be Leading Courageously.

All organizations will rise or fall depending on how they are led. The good news is Penn-Mar’s leadership continues to ensure that our mission is never compromised, even when events outside our control intervene.

I am grateful to our Board for helping us to develop the best Strategic Plan possible to protect the organization’s future and I look forward to sharing it with our Team Members and supporters in the Fall.

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We’re Here: Then, Now, Always

ggorham — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 19:15:08 +0000

Recognizing the lasting presence, progress, and promise of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Gregory Miller
President/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services

The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) selected “We’re Here: Then, Now, Always” as the theme for this year’s National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Building on last year’s campaign, the message reminds us that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have always been part of our communities and always will be. By connecting the past, present, and future, the theme highlights a simple but important truth.

While the lives of people with IDD have significantly improved since 1987 when then President Ronald Reagan first proclaimed the designated month, millions still face barriers every day that make it harder to access the resources, relationships, and opportunities needed to flourish.

National data gathered by peer organization AbleLight reflects these ongoing challenges:

Some 710,000 people with IDD are on waiting lists for Home and Community Based Services (US Congress).

Less than 1 in 5 adults with IDD have paid employment in their communities (National Core Indicators).

Less than 3 in 10 adults with IDD participate in community groups or activities (National Core Indicators).

The work our team members do every day at Penn-Mar is critically important to serving a need. I often remind them that someone born today with IDD will require our support services 21 years from now. Since 1981, we have been ready and more than able to answer this need.

Penn-Mar’s services over the years have evolved from “taking care” of people with disabilities to providing them with person-centered support that allows them to live courageous lives of their choosing.

In our early days we were often removing people with IDD from horrible living situations to a much better environment, but we were still the ones “calling the shots.” Today, the people we support call the shots. We empower them to make good decisions by providing education, experiences, and exposure to opportunities that help them to choose and achieve the life of purpose they deserve.

Long ago we closed our Sheltered Workshop program and have embraced an “Employment First” mentality to help people with IDD pursue skills training, paid employment and career advancement.

Our Day Programs have branched out with a multitude of community-based offerings, ranging from restaurant, shopping and museum trips; to nature walks and fitness center workouts; to church attendance and volunteer engagement.

At Penn-Mar, “the future is now” as we have increasingly streamlined our services with assistive technology (AT) tools, Smart Home designs and equipment, and a transformative multi-purpose space at our new Washington Heights building.

Our mission at Penn-Mar is to promote courageous living and leadership for everyone connected to our organization. We do this by continually looking for innovative ways to make our services even better. When our strategic planning process begins next month, our board will be addressing more exciting changes for the future.

Jill Jacobs, Executive Director of NACDD sees National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month as “a reminder that people with IDD are always here, and that all of us have a responsibility to keep learning, engaging, and building communities where everyone belongs – every day of the year.”

Amen to that!

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Breaking the Groundhog Day Funding Cycle

ggorham — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:16:41 +0000

How innovation and advocacy keep Penn-Mar moving forward despite frozen budgets.

Gregory Miller
President/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services

Are you feeling trapped in these endless cycles of freezing days and nights? When Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this February and predicted six more weeks of winter, it felt all too familiar.

Certain aspects of routine, like waking up to the “Big Chill” every morning, can feel like the “Groundhog Day” movie theme of “eternal recurrence.” Each year at this time, our work with government legislatures over funding takes on that same repetitive rhythm. The conversations are familiar. The challenges are predictable. And too often, the outcomes are as well.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro recently delivered his 2026-27 budget address, and funding for our services will basically remain the same. That leaves little room to absorb rising costs or cost-of-living increases for our amazing workforce.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s FY 2027 budget reflected the financial crisis the state has been battling. It includes an overall increase of just eight-tenths of one percent, alongside nearly $900 million in targeted cuts and cost-saving measures. For providers like Penn-Mar, that means another “Groundhog Day” moment in an all too familiar funding cycle.

February and March are intense months for us. We work diligently with both state governments to keep the funding from sliding backwards and to secure every dollar needed to sustain essential services. At the same time, we are engaging our Corporate Partners to secure sponsorship revenues for our March Gala, which funds the innovations that push us beyond basic services.

There are two sides to our annual funding story.

The hard work involves our advocacy efforts to keep legislators in Annapolis and Harrisburg keenly aware that the budgeting decisions they make have a profound impact on our ability to do our life-changing work every day. We are dependent on government funding, but it is becoming more challenging to get traction when year after year the process and outcomes are unchanged.

We deeply appreciate the bipartisan support expressed by governors and legislators for the work Penn-Mar does to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). But the frustration comes from competing with hundreds of other constituents who are also looking for critical resources. We understand that there is only so much money to go around, but the status quo in funding our services has been, frankly, exhausting.

While we remain fully committed to delivering exceptional day-to-day support, the most energizing work we do involves creating change that allows us to take greater control of our future. We refuse to remain stuck in a “Groundhog Day” cycle defined only by basic services funding.

Innovation is one of our core values. It’s transformative and serves as a key driver in our efforts to secure the outside funding needed to develop programs and services beyond the basics. These initiatives greatly enhance the quality of life for individuals with IDD and their dedicated team members.

Innovation strengthens the services we provide, enhances career tracks, and creates incentives for our team members. It’s what excites our partners, families, friends, and donors to generously support the Penn-Mar mission.

Critical to that support is the thoughtful guidance and vision of our Penn-Mar Human Services and Foundation Boards that has enabled us to grow despite routine and often disappointing “Groundhog Day” funding cycles.

If there is an “eternal recurrence” we welcome, it is our shared commitment to keep moving forward, innovating, and advocating, no matter how predictable the funding cycle may be.

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Your Stories Shape Policies: Why Advocacy Matters

ggorham — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 21:10:13 +0000

At Penn-Mar, our commitment to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and encourage them to live courageously never changes. What does change is the environment around us. Policies shift. Funding priorities move. And the systems people with IDD rely on are often shaped by decisions made far from their everyday lives.

Gregory Miller
President/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services

Advocacy is how we bridge that gap. It is how we help decision-makers understand the real impact of their choices on real people.

As we enter a new legislative session, our advocacy efforts directed at the decision makers in both Maryland and Pennsylvania will play an increasingly important role.

When legislators make funding decisions, it’s imperative that they understand there are real lives behind those choices. That’s why we must continue telling the stories of the people we support and the families who rely on these services every day.

As we move ahead, a clear strategic vision is necessary to ensure that everyone understands and values what we bring to the system, and that any barriers to providing the highest quality support to people with IDD are eliminated.

Last February, our advocacy efforts were working to prevent the proposed elimination of Maryland’s Low Intensity Support Services (LISS) Program, funding that was improving quality of life for over 2,000 families, helping them increase or maintain independence and participate in their communities.

Your powerful advocacy voices helped the LISS program survive — but at a 50 percent decrease. My goal this year is to see that the legislators restore it to the original funding that was provided, at minimum. We need to be crystal clear to help decision makers understand the impact of potential cuts on the program and how it will hurt hundreds, if not thousands, of families supporting a child with IDD.

Tina Chan Sweenie, Penn-Mar’s Associate Director of Development, Volunteer and Donor Relations, has done a remarkable job engaging our families in advocacy and building the Penn-Mar Advocacy Collective (PMAC).

PMAC exists to help lawmakers see the people behind their policy decisions. By sharing real stories, we bring humanity and context to issues that are often only discussed on paper.

In November, the group hosted an inspiring and empowering Legislative Roundtable discussion with our Pennsylvania representatives. The conversation was led by a team of Penn-Mar self-advocates, families, and team members.

The Roundtable showcased PMAC’s operating principles, and alongside the Pennsylvania Advocates and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities (PAR), shared real-life experiences that show how policies and regulations impact people in real time.

On February 11, PMAC will host its annual Advocacy Training to update families on policy changes that affect their loved ones. The session will share easy, effective strategies to make each person’s advocacy efforts impactful.

PAR is currently inviting people who live in Pennsylvania to share their stories that are critical to ensuring policymakers understand the real-world impact of their budget decisions.

And in Maryland, to coincide with Maryland Developmental Disabilities Day on February 18, there will be an event dedicated to making a difference for people with developmental disabilities. Self-advocates, families, and team members will speak with legislators virtually to discuss key issues and advocate for restoring full funding to the LISS Program.

The purpose of advocacy is to help people understand how this system works. It’s to explain what’s effective, what isn’t, and where change is needed. Funding matters, but it’s also important to consider the way that resources are used and if they truly support people in their everyday lives. That responsibility is one I take seriously.

If you want to learn more about the Penn-Mar Advocacy Collective or take part in upcoming advocacy opportunities, reach out to Tina Chan Sweenie TinaChanSweenie@Penn-Mar.org.

Your voice truly matters!

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Our Future Shaped by Design

ggorham — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 18:25:37 +0000

Why intention matters, and how your generosity helps shape what’s next.

Gregory Miller
President/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services

I don’t know about you, but I can’t believe the holiday season is here again! Imagine if we didn’t prepare for it and just “showed up.” Christmas would feel like just another date on the calendar.

Have you ever considered reimagining your holiday routine? Wishing alone will not do it. A design and thoughtful plan are needed to achieve that new vision.

Progress of any kind rarely happens by accident — it happens by design. To underscore that point, Penn-Mar Human Services recently launched our year-end giving campaign with the theme “Shaped by Design.” Throughout the campaign, we are highlighting personal stories and examples to show how our programs and services foster independence, innovation, community, and dedication.

While every program, success, and life impacted at Penn-Mar is the result of a relentless focus on our mission, it’s also shaped by your intentional generosity. When you choose to invest in Penn-Mar, you are helping us design a better world for people with disabilities and their families.

Thanks to your support, Penn-Mar is a leading provider. But it would be a mistake for our organization to get too comfortable doing things the way we always have. Our partnerships remind us that standing still is not an option because the needs and goals of the people we support continue to evolve.

By taking a thoughtful approach to the future, Penn-Mar can continue creating opportunities that lead to greater possibility for the people we support. Those efforts are made possible through the generosity of people like you who choose to stand alongside this work.

Here are a few examples of how that intentional approach is taking shape at Penn-Mar:

The 2026 relocation to a multi-purpose facility in Westminster, to provide a day program that responds to the needs and desires of the people we support, their families, and our team members.

Creating a culture of excellence by thus far supporting 57% of all Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) at Penn-Mar in pursuing Career Ladders national accreditation in addition to launching a new Frontline Supervisor training program to ensure the highest quality person-centered services.

Focusing on the future of housing and investing in one-story residences so that the people we support can age in place living life on their terms.

Expanding our Assistive Technology services to strengthen the impact of our DSPs by offering people with disabilities greater choices.

There will always be uncertainties in government policy and funding, but those resources only help us meet our most basic needs. Your generosity goes beyond standard programming; it changes lives.

With a plan that serves as an organizational anchor, and your continued support, we can dream bigger and provide services that are truly person-centered, not just today, but for the future we’re designing together.

“By design” does not mean by my design. It’s made up of a collective mindset, especially by the people who are providing life-changing services every day to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Your gift is more than a donation. It’s a design choice. We’re counting on you to once again help us design an even brighter and more impactful year ahead.

I wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy holiday season, designed with creative twists, love, and life-long memories.

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