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| | Parent Advisory and Review Committee
The Parent Advisory and Review Committee, formerly known as the Citizens
Advisory and Review Committee, was established in August 1980. Membership at that time consisted of parents of Developmentally Disabled persons, self-employed individuals, bankers, teachers, attorneys, a pharmacist a railroad employee. The purpose of the committee was to solicit citizen advise by creating and supporting active citizen advisory boards to serve as one means of making the facility accountable to the state by monitoring the implementation of new policies and procedures, assisting in setting budget priorities, monitoring programs, patient rights and training staff. This group assisted the superintendent in reviewing complaints made from the community, program issues of the hospital, review of any allegations of abuse and monitored other incidents that impacted on the community.
The citizens group became quite large, comprised of more parents of PSH&TC residents, than community members, each group with a different focus. The parent group decided to split into two groups, establishing the Parsons State Hospital Endowment Association in 1982. The focus of the Endowment Association was to provide a source of funding for the various projects, entertainment, equipment, benefits and other charitable programs for residents of PSH&TC. One of the first projects of the Endowment Association was the Gary J Daniels Sunbelt Rodeo. The Endowment Association is community oriented, a not-for-profit organization, controlled by a Board of Directors composed of parents and business leaders within the community.
Today the Parent Advisory and Review Committee consists of parents of PSH&TC residents. They continue to advise the administration on matters pertaining to programs and community relations that represent the parents and
residents of persons served by the facility. The Superintendent advises the committee on current legislation affecting the hospital, budget issues and numerous other projects that are on-going at PSH&TC. The parent group is instrumental in communicating with legislators throughout the state, providing valuable insight into the services, care and treatment provided to residents while at PSH&TC.
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