History & Overview Progressive Directions, Inc.
Progressive Directions Inc was originally chartered as the Smiles Center in 1976 to serve adults with Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities in Clarksville/Montgomery County. The agency started serving the original 8 individuals that same year. The name was changed in 1978 to Progressive Directions Inc. The following were milestones that were accomplished since 1978.
- 1979 first group home started
- 1980 the agency was serving 30 individuals
- 1983 center started serving individuals in Stewart County
- 1984 the Children’s program was added, to serve children with MR/DD
- 1984 Montgomery County gave the agency 3 acres on Paradise Hill Rd. to build a workshop on, “Current Site of the Administrative Offices for the Center”
- 1985 agency moves in the Paradise Hill Rd. building
- 1988 Civitan International awarded a Grant for a workshop in Stewart County
- 1991 started NISH lawn and janitorial contracts at Ft. Campbell Military Base
- 1992 the center was serving 76 adults and the 40 children
- 1994 agency moves Clarksville workshop to bigger building due to growth in program
- 1996 current Executive Director Jay Albertia hired
- 1998 donation of land and warehouse on Cumberland Drive in downtown Clarksville by Jack B. Turner ($350,000 donation)
- 1999 closed last large group home and transformed all homes to Supported Living houses with no more than three individuals per home
- 1999 Family Support Grant awarded to the agency (the Current grant stands at $160,000 annually that supports persons with disabilities that live at home and need assistance)
- 2000 opened an integrated preschool/early intervention program named Kids Depot (Current enrollment is 104 children)
- 2002 Montgomery County Planning Commission with a joint effort from the Bi-County Landfill donated ($100,000 for the demolition on of the Cumberland Drive property)
- 2002 the agency served over 430 individuals total in its programs: Adult, Children, Residential, Lawn & Janitorial Crews, Family Support Program and Kids Depot
- 2003 Agency purchased 9 new vehicles to transport individuals that are served. (The agency currently has 34 vehicles that travel over 400,000 miles annually)
- 2003 the agency begins construction on a 2,200-sqft addition to its Stewart County workshop building
- 2003 the agency purchased a building on 170 W. Dunbar Cave Road in Clarksville. The building purchase price was $60,000 less than the appraised building value. The $60,000 was donated to the agency by the landowner Jim Amos. This building will replace the current workshop that was being leased saving the agency over $12,000 annually
- 2006 the agency expanded the Kid's Depot facility and added a 7200 square foot building on the existing property. The project price was just over $500,000 and the building opened September of 2006
- 2006 a 1385 square foot Respite House was built on the Paradise Hill property and was completed in the fall of 2006. The cost of the home was $90,000. This is one of the only dedication Respite Homes in Middle Tennessee
- October 19, 2006 the agency celebrated the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the respite house, Wakeman House which is named for Bonnie Wakeman who retired from PDI after over 25 years of loyal service to our organization and the individuals we serve.
Today, we serve over 700 individuals annually and employ over 240 staff. We provide services to individuals of all ages who are funded through Tennessee's Division of Mental Retardation Services.
All PDI operations are licensed by the State of Tennessee. PDI's mission is to serve the people of Montgomery and Stewart Counties, acting in the public interest by providing mental retardation services to this catchment area.
PDI is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who have full responsibility for directing the agency. The agency is funded by the Tennessee Division of Mental Retardation Services, Tennessee Early Intervention System, United Way, Local Governments, Corporate and Private Contributions.
Overview
Progressive Directions, Inc. exists to serve the people of Montgomery and Stewart Counties, acting in the public interest by providing quality mental retardation services to this Catchment area.
The agency is chartered by the State of Tennessee as a private not for profit organization. All Progressive Directions, Inc. operations are licensed by the State of Tennessee.
The agency goal is to provide equal opportunity and access to services regardless of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex or veteran status.
Any person living or working in this agency's Catchment area may request services offered.
Progressive Directions, Inc. is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who have full responsibility for directing the agency. These directors are representative of our community, limited to no more than fifteen in number. The Board appoints new members as needed and is responsible for giving direction to the delivery of mental retardation services in the two county Catchment area. The Board will meet at least once monthly and may have called meetings as necessary.
The agency is funded by grants, various contracts with governments, community agency funds, and private customer fees for service. The agency is further authorized to contract with Federal, State and private agencies to carry out its mission.
Serving the Board of Directors is the Executive Director, who is responsible for oversight and operation of all agency activities and programs. The Executive Director may retain and delegate such responsibility and authority to other agency staff consistent with sound management principles.
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