About Eden
About Lifespan Services:
Eden's philosophy of lifespan services is based upon the premise that the majority of individuals with autism require services throughout their lifetime. While the extent to which these services are needed will differ from person to person, their specialized nature will not.
Lifespan services are at the core of Eden's service continuum that ranges from early intervention programming to services for older adults with autism. Lifespan services are the vehicle by which individuals who have autism continue to learn and to grow - and to become active, contributing members of their communities.
Credo:
With a mission dedicated to serving the lifespan needs of people with autism, Eden has developed a Credo that serves as a value statement in support of that mission.
We believe our first responsibility is to Eden's children and adults with autism. Our challenge is to educate and train our participants in order that they reach their full potential and enjoy a high quality of life. Each must be considered an individual. We must respect their dignity and recognize their merit. We must keep abreast of current and well-established intervention strategies and tailor remedial programs to the unique learning styles of each child or adult.
Our second responsibility is to Eden's families. We must help them understand autism and how they can help their children reach their full potential. We must be ever cognizant of the stresses a family with an autistic individual encounter and diligent in our efforts to support the family members.
Our third responsibility is to the men and women who work for the Eden Autism Services. They must feel professionally stimulated and challenged. They must be trained to offer the highest quality of programs possible. They must have a sense of security in their jobs. Compensation must be fair and adequate. Working conditions must be clean, orderly and safe.
Our fourth responsibility is to the community at large. We must be good neighbors to those in whose communities we offer services. We must continue to educate the community about autism. We must offer community members opportunities to fulfill their spirit of volunteerism. We must also advocate for the community of families who have children with autism. We must offer them support of research into the causes and treatment of autism, consultation services and support of government policies that encourage the development of services to families and their children with autism.
Our final responsibility is to those who support Eden Autism Services. If we meet the first four of our responsibilities with success, we believe those who have supported these programs will feel that their support has been.
EDEN at a Glance
Services/Programs
- 10 month Day Program
- Accountability-Behavior Management
- Adult Employment Services
- Advocacy
- After School Program
- Community Relations
- Conferences
- Continuing Education
- Diagnostics/Evaluations
- Education & Retreat Services
- Expert Testimony
- Fundraising/Marketing
- Group Home Services
- Home Program
- Infant & Toddler Program
- Information & Referrals
- International Internship Program
- Lecture Series
- Outreach Summer Residential
- Parent/Sibling Support Groups
- Parent Training & Lectures
- Professional Training Services
- Program Evaluations/Consults
- Publications
- Research
- Respite & Emergency Care
- Respite Cash Option Program
- Scope Evaluations
- Special Events
- Summer Day & Residential
- Supplemental Clinic Services
- Supported Living Services
- Video Conferencing
Number of People Served
More than 2,400 individuals and families benefit from Eden's services annually.
Staff
Clinical 300+
(includes full-time, part-time, and volunteer) - Non-Clinical 24
Budget
(FY 2008): - Total Revenue $18,782,559 - Total Expenditures $21,076,726
How Funded
About 85% of the cost to operate Eden comes from tuitions paid by school districts, allocations from the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities, and private tuition’s and fees. The balance is supported through Eden's fundraising activities.
Message From Our President
The Eden Institute plans to open its new school building in the fall of 2011. Those who have waited almost ten years for the new school to materialize may say “That’s not soon enough!” However, it was necessary for numerous factors to come into alignment before the dream of a new school could begin to come true. Now for many of us, impatience has been replaced with excitement. After considering several possible sites, Eden selected a building in the Princeton Forrestal Center that was previously occupied by The Harmony School. The location, in close proximity to Eden’s current school, is easily accessible and offers ample parking. The building that stands on the site has “good bones” and will be expanded and reconfigured to meet the special needs of Eden’s students.
There will also be plenty of space for Eden’s outreach and early intervention services, as well as room for administrative offices. Especially welcome features will include a gymnasium, kitchens in which life skills will be taught, and a convenience store where participants can hone their employment skills. Funding for the $10 million facility will come from a variety of sources. Princeton University, which has been a valued partner in the project, purchased Eden’s current Route 1 campus. A bond issue will supply the largest share of the funds. Donors to Eden’s “Nurturing Today, Embracing Tomorrow” capital campaign will provide the remaining $4 million needed to turn our plans into reality. KSS Architects have created a model of the building which we would be pleased to show to interested parties.
The new school offers a variety of spaces which donors can name for themselves or use to honor or memorialize loved ones [see the list on page x of this newsletter]. In the months ahead the Eden staff and I will be pleased to report to our donors and friends on the progress of the new school. When the date of our groundbreaking is set, we will invite you to share in the excitement as we move the project forward. Until then, if you have not done so already, please consider becoming an integral part of Eden’s future by making your own capital campaign contribution to our new school or Eden’s endowment.
Thomas P. McCool, EdD
President and CEO