Mission

“…And yet with the range of their capacity, I am preparing them to go out.  I mean to say that my methods are not to institutionalize them, but to prepare them for practical and useful lives wherever they land.”  - S. Olin Garrison.

Reverend Garrison wrote the above qoute as part of his first annual report on The Training School in 1892.  This quote embodies the philosophy that The Training School maintains to this day: the philosophy that focuses on enabling the individual to act independently, and strives to aviod practices that may render the individual helplessly dependent on an institution. The Training School's methods are geared towards teaching practical living skills that will aid the individual for thier entire life. 

The Training School's official mission statement is as follows: 

"The Training School at Vineland is a comprehensive resource center offering a continuum of services to individuals with developmental disabilities.  We believe in assisting and supporting each person served to attain his/her highest level of independence. We are charged with the responsibility for the care, support and habilitation of individuals who need specialized placement. All members of The Training School, or individuals associated with the agency in any capacity, embrace a philosophy that considers the individual as the focal point of all activities. It is not enough to provide only for the physical needs of those entrusted to our care. Through a milieu environment, we strive to fulfill all the complex needs of each individual. The following are key principles which are the foundation for this philosophy and model of services."