Posted on November 13, 2025
“Fall Family Update” offered open forum for exchanging information and perspectives
Penn-Mar has earned its reputation as a transformational leader for the supports we provide for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). To maintain that position, it’s important to continually collaborate with our families and remain perpetual “students” in our field, always curious, listening, and learning.
No matter how hard we work or how committed our team is, nothing can replace the love and connection of family. That’s why we’re focused on deepening those partnerships and finding new ways to keep families involved.
We hosted a “Fall Family Update” night in October. As the leader of our organization, I wanted to offer families the opportunity to learn more about our team and services, innovative initiatives, and advocacy efforts. More importantly, I wanted to listen to their perspectives and concerns and assure them that their input is essential to all our success.
I also want to be sure that families understand they do not have to wait for a scheduled meeting to ask a question or raise a concern. I welcome and encourage family members to contact me or other members of our leadership team if they think it’s warranted. And of course, our team of professionals — who know and work with their loved ones every day — are always available to provide information and the appropriate response.
Many who attended the “Fall Family Update” commented that they learned a lot of new information that helped shape their perspective. Communication is a two-way street, and I will own our responsibility to ensure we are being as transparent and forthcoming with families as possible.
One of the challenges of family involvement is that every family is in a different place. Some we see often, some live out of state and can only connect occasionally, and others are deeply involved every day. What doesn’t change is that customer satisfaction is as important to families as it is to the people we support.
We never want to shut families out of the process, nor are we looking for quick fixes rather than long-term solutions to issues that may crop up. We are striving to develop strong relationships with families that in every area of life require intentionality and a lot of hard work.
Penn-Mar’s person-centered support helps people with IDD be more in control of their life. However, as their loved ones become more independent, this can often be hard for families to accept.
Respectful conversations to explore differences of opinion with the person’s best interest in mind can only be successful if we have a strong relationship with the family members. Their voices are important; their life experience with their loved ones is a vital part of the equation.
Our success must be grounded on a platform of trust between Penn-Mar and our families with a clear focus being on the person we support and what they want in life.
Part of staying curious is continually looking for different ways to set up the people we support for success. That means new Assistive Technology solutions to increase independence and skills for people with IDD, for example.
Our new Washington Heights facility will meet the needs of people with IDD and their families in Carroll County who were asking for support service options at a central hub that could provide community-based programming in an environment where people can learn, recharge, and connect as needed.
At the end of the day, our goal at Penn-Mar is centered around helping the people we support live their fullest life and become the best person they can be.
I believe in my heart that our families want that too. Nothing can ever replace the love of your family. Where we come in is to work with families to help their loved ones pursue their goals and live courageously.