BENEDICTINE SCHOOL FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN FOUNDATION INC
Learning for Living
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Education Program
Benedictine's Education program for children ages 5 through 21 with developmental disabilities and autism is focused on three core areas:
Functional Academics
• Using assistive technology to enhance verbal or functional communications
• Offering a high well-balanced academic program that helps develop vocational and independence skills
Total Communications
• Providing tools and learning coupled with Speech and Occupational therapies to enable functionally non-verbal children to communicate
Academic and Behavioral Learning Environment
• Providing Multi-disciplinary instruction including teachers and behavioral specialists with close collaboration between teachers; Speech/Language Pathologist; Occupational Therapist; Consulting Psychiatrist; and outside consultants
Adult Residential Services Program
Benedictine's Adult Residential Service Program provides residential support for up to 68 adults 21 or older in 18 group homes located in Annapolis, Easton, Denton, Henderson, and Ridgely, Md. All homes are licensed by Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Health Care Quality. The Maryland Developmental Disability Administration provides residential funding. Our focus is to assist the individuals we serve in becoming productive and active members of their communities.
Each residence provides a home-like environment for two to four individuals who require specialized living arrangements. Benedictine's 18 Community Living Group homes are close to family members and friends and maintain necessary staff, programs, support services, and equipment to meet the individuals' needs including housing, meals, and transportation services to jobs in the community, medical appointments, shopping and entertainment activities.
A dedicated team of Direct Care Professionals work with each individual to help them develop daily living, socialization, and leisure skills through community relationships.
Each individual residing in a group home is carefully matched with other members of the household to promote compatibility and encourage the development of meaningful friendships. All our adult individuals have their own bedroom and are encouraged to personalize living space, both shared and private.
Adult Vocational Services
At the heart of our mission is commitment to the Benedictine value, Dignity of Work. We believe that regardless of the degree of disability, all people should have the opportunity to explore interests and abilities through involvement in a variety of meaningful, productive vocational training options. To support a vocational program built on a person centered approach, we grow small businesses in a variety of industries including horticulture, food service, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, housekeeping, commercial cleaning, and recycling. All individuals have a varied weekly schedule based on each person’s unique interests, strengths, and needs, and includes both paid training opportunities on campus as well as competitive work and volunteer jobs in the community.
Where we work
External reviews

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Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our goals are to improve the quality of life for the students and adults with developmental disabilities and autism who we serve; have a positive impact on the community at large; exceed regulatory requirements from our government funding and licensing agencies and improve Benedictine's overall fiscal picture.
Benedictine has revised and adjusted its program and services to better meet the needs of growing population of functionally non-verbal students who manifest significant sensory and behavioral needs and require speech, physical and occupational therapies as part of their educational programming. The changing population of children with significant disabilities has far reaching implications for the types of services we will need to provide in the future as the children graduate into Benedictine's adult program or transition into other community-based programs for the developmentally disabled.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We are focused on four key strategic areas:
School Programming: We will develop strategic partnerships that position our Ridgely, Md., campus as a resource for organizations serving students with a range of special needs. These partnerships will expand on-campus programming, generate revenue and assure maximum utilization of facilities. Benedictine will expand residential options into the community and update current facilities on campus. Expansion of community-based residential options is consistent with the regulations under the Autism Waiver and has the potential to attract new students and offer additional services, i.e. respite services, for school age children throughout Maryland.
Adult Services Residential Program: We will expand offerings beyond our traditional group home model to include personal support services and other community based models that integrate our adult clients into their community.
Vocational Services: We will expand operations into the community and continue to build on integrated supported employment opportunities. We will grow the number of people we serve by 10% annually and develop strategic partnerships with other provider organizations and local businesses to diversify revenue sources.
Staffing: We will recruit, train and retain the best qualified staff that will continue to meet the needs of the students and adults we serve while meeting the ever changing requirements of our regulatory partners.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Benedictine has a highly engaged and dedicated Board that continually assesses our programmatic and financial goals that allow us to meet the needs of the children and adults we serve. Our staff of 400 is highly qualified and includes special education teachers, therapists, psychologists, social workers, employment coaches, residential coordinators, behavioral counselors and aides, who provide functional academics; vocational training; speech and language, occupational and physical therapy; behavior management planning; assistive technology; 24-hour nursing and medication management. We provide an exceptional program that has won national recognition and continues to adapt to meet the needs of those we serve.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have been successful in developing community partners to assist in our job placements for students and adults we serve. We have successfully implemented our personal supports program and have already exceeded our target for year 1. We have developed on-campus housing options that meet the needs of the students.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
BENEDICTINE SCHOOL FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN FOUNDATION INC
Board of directorsas of 01/19/2023
Mr. Charles Mills
Bracewell
Term: 2023 - 2025
Brandon Becker
The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation
Howard S. Blake
Retired University of Maryland Police Department
Thomas J. Collamore
Collamore Consulting Group, LLC
Benjamin J. Denihan
Denihan Hospitality Group
Charles R. Mills
Steptoe & Johnson, LLP
Charles E. Partridge
Retired Semmes, Bowen & Semmes, PC
Thad Fletcher
Cooke & Bieler
Cheryl Keamy
Innovative Concepts Unlimited, Inc.
Sanford W. Morehouse
Schulte, Roth & Zabel, LLP
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data