Switzer Center
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Recruit qualified Board members with expectations and onboarding. Clearly define Board member roles and responsibilities. Hire and train resource development professionals. Lessen the risk of key staff member departures. Improve the aesthetics of current campus (interior and exterior). Improve our partnerships with local school districts and related officials. Expand clinical programming to after school hours. Build out a focused plan to increase publicity of SLC and its program effectiveness. Determine the feasibility of implementing a capital fundraising plan (in coordination with operating needs) to make significant improvements to the existing campus.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Heritage School (Grades 5-12)
A nonpublic special education school for students challenged by learning, behavioral or emotional disabilities. A maximum of 12 students per classroom taught by a credentialed special education teacher and a dedicated aide. All students receive 60 minutes of individual counseling per week under the supervision of clinical psychologists and participate in a structured reading program. Students also have access to adaptive physical education programming, speech, and language therapy. Over 80% of our students have dedicated post high-school plans to attend college or start a career with one of our dedicated workforce development partners. Every student learns to read, learns to communicate effectively, and learns techniques for dealing with difficult situations.
Spectrum Program
Switzer Learning Center developed an innovative program that offers an integration of clinical and educational programs for children, teens, and young adults with autistic spectrum disorders. This is a comprehensive clinical and educational program based on Vygotsky’s theory of Guided Participation and focusing on remediating the core deficits of autism. It is a cognitive-developmental treatment program that guides children to build genuine relationships with peers and adults while giving them the tools they need to reach their full potential. The program benefits students ages 12-22 with moderate to severe autistic spectrum disorders. We use an alternative curriculum to teach skills necessary to function as independently as possible while also focusing on the core deficits of autism using Guided Participation.
Self-Advocacy and Independent Living (SAIL) Transition Program
This program supports young adults, ages 18-22, with moderate to severe autistic spectrum disorder as they build independence, life, and job skills to transition into adulthood beyond high school. Weekly community-based field trips and both on and off campus supported work experiences prepares SAIL participants for shadowed job internships at local businesses. SAIL students gain valuable vocational skills working 2-3 times per week at a variety of employer partners. The SAIL Program builds independence and supports the transition to a fulfilling life beyond high school.
Where we work
Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of students per classroom during the reporting period
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
In a special education classroom where students receive specialized instruction, the number of students per classroom ranges from 6 to 12 with one general education teacher and a teacher's aide.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn 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?
Board Development Training & Recruitment Campaign
Define Board Goals & Function
Hire development professional
Reduce Key Staff Turnover
Improve Current Facility
Maximize Program Enrollment
School District Partnership Improvement Plan
Expand Clinical Programs
Plan & Implement Community Relations Strategy
Complete Feasibility Study for Capital fundraising needs
Hire Capital Campaign Manager & support staff
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
At Switzer, we believe in a world where youth with special needs receive the same or better educational opportunities as any other student. Our strategy to combine education and therapeutic services has been the catalyst for change for over 56 years. We build comprehensive educational plans for each student on our campus. Based on their previous experiences and utilizing a trauma-informed approach, we then offer clinical services to combat a variety of emotional and behavioral issues. Based on extensive research, we expose students to therapeutic services at least 60 minutes per week (some more if needed). This minimum standard of therapeutic services combined with a stellar educational curriculum in partnership with local school districts has proven to be a winning combination for our students.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Dr. Janet Switzer developed an innovative method of combining clinical therapy and education over 56 years ago. Today, her legacy lives on at The Switzer Learning Center in Torrance. Our team of special educators, psychologists, behavior interventionists, and speech and language therapists have nurtured our students to believe (in themselves), achieve (in school and life) and thrive (as independent adults). That tradition holds true to this very day. There are countless success stories of students who had nowhere else to turn, but Switzer's doors were open to them.
The majority of our students experience challenges in other school settings because they have been hurt and rejected so many times by so many people they were supposed to trust. Here's what we've learned over the last 56 years, kids don’t care how much you know...they want to know how much you care. At Switzer, we ask our students to take the risk to learn differently and to trust us to help them.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We completed the implementation of our Technology Revolution initiative that was made possible through grant funding from the Ahmanson Foundation and the Norris Foundation. We were able to add WIFI access, a video lab, install in-classroom large screen monitors, dual monitors on all teacher and admin computers, laptops for all teacher assistants, and a student computer lab. The teachers’ computers are connected to large screen monitors for classroom instruction. New overhead projectors were installed. We also installed 36 security cameras and access control on the main doors for teacher and student safety with 30 days of recording memory, installed security monitors, and added an option for video conferencing with parents, school officials, and student meetings for Individual Education Plans.
We also purchased Schoology. This software is used in most public-school settings and is a social networking service and virtual learning environment for K-12 school and higher education institutions that allows users to create, manage, and share academic content.
Switzer Learning Center, in its inception of becoming a technology-infused school, has created a multimedia program that is designed to train students to become proficient in the most relevant software platforms, as well as exploring the use of technology in its many different forms. Students have the access to professional versions of software and are taught industry-standard knowledge, preparing them for the challenging and multifaceted media work-force.
We raised $1.95 million in six months to pay off the organization's mortgage at its main campus in Torrance. Paying off the mortgage affords us $138,000 in additional income annually that now will go directly toward benefiting our students, teachers and support staff.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
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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
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Switzer Center
Board of directorsas of 10/11/2023
Anthony Bozanic
PDM CPAs
Term: 2022 - 2024
Connor Hartwell
Hartwell Financial
Matthew Bond
Guaranty Escrow
Julia Parton
Malaga Bank
Mike Rausch
Aaronet, Inc.
Barbara Graham
Torrance Refining
Mistee Ruiz
Facio, LLC
Roxanne Chang
UCLA Harbor Medical Center
Susan McNary-Johnson
Retired Psychologist
Jill Thomas
Attorney
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: