Strawberry Fields Inc. in State College has joined Pennsylvania-based Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health as an affiliate in a move both nonprofits said on Wednesday will strengthen services for individuals with with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism and mental health challenges in Centre County.
As an affiliate, Strawberry Fields will remain an independent legal entity and will retain its name, staff and leadership, with Cindy Pasquinelli continuing as CEO. The 53-year-old nonprofit organization also will continue provide its full array of services and its social enterprises: Good Day Cafe, 286 W. Hamilton Ave., and the fabric craft store Scraps & Skeins, 2766 W. College Ave.
The more than 600 children and adults and their families served by Strawberry Fields will continue to receive care in the same program locations.
By partnering with one of Pennsylvania’s largest nonprofit providers of behavioral health care, Strawberry Fields “will gain access to Devereux’s national model of clinical and evidence-based best practices; quality and safety programs; and technological and financial infrastructure and systems,” according to a news release.
It will also be able to take part in Devereux’s recruiting resources and employee benefits, including a career accelerator program that offers tuition assistance, student loan repayment and professional development opportunities.
The “mission-driven collaboration combines Devereux’s extensive national resources and proven clinical expertise with [Strawberry Fields’] deep community roots,” Pasquinelli said.
“As an affiliate of Devereux, we will now have the ability, along with the financial backing, to expand and enhance our programs, while preserving our 53-year tradition of providing critical services to individuals and families who need our help and support in Centre County,” Pasquinelli said in a statement.
For Devereux, which provides services for thousands of children and adults in 12 states, the partnership supports its “strategic plan for expansion in the areas of community-based supports, specialty mental health and education services, while positioning the nonprofit for growth in central Pennsylvania,” according to the release. The organization specifically cited Strawberry Fields’ expertise with its early intervention services and Fairweather Lodge program, a living arrangement for individuals with mental illness who are active members of their community — programs that Devereux has identified as growth opportunities.
The two organizations also plan to explore expansion of educational services for youth and adults in Centre County.
“What makes Strawberry Fields so special is its unwavering commitment to personal choice, personalized care and community integration, enabling individuals to live as independently as possible while emphasizing inclusion within the community,” Devereux President and CEO Carl E. Clark II said in a statement.
“Strawberry Fields is an inspiration throughout Centre County, and I am thrilled to partner with Cindy and her team. This synergistic partnership between our like-minded and people-driven organizations will result in better serving the growing needs of Centre County, while building a sustainable model for long-term success in the areas of person-centered, community-driven care.”
Consulting for Human Services advised Strawberry Fields on the transaction, which the firm’s CEO, Stacy DiStefano, said is the result of “forward-thinking leaders… proactively seeking sustainable solutions” amid ongoing challenges in the behavioral health sector.
“This partnership represents a true win-win – aligning missions while ensuring the continued impact of both organizations’ exceptional work,” DiStefano said in a statement. “It’s a testament to the power of strategic collaboration in strengthening services for those who need them most.”
The move also received the support of the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association.
“As the human services landscape continues to evolve, the administrative and financial pressures on public sector agencies continue to mount,” RCPA President and CEO Richard S. Edley said in a statement. “It is important to be proactive and develop affiliation and other strategies that strengthen smaller providers to continue their great work into the future. We look forward to working closely with this newly structured organization.”
Strawberry Fields’ affiliation with Devereux became effective on Tuesday, Feb. 18. To oversee the partnership, the Strawberry Fields Board of Directors will become an interlocking model, with several members of Devereux’s executive team joining.
“The combination of services and support functions between the two organizations will evolve over the next 12 to 18 months,” according to the release.
