In 1965, the California Legislature determined that the best way
to provide community-based services to citizens with
developmental disabilities and their families was through
partnerships with local private sector organizations.
These local organizations are known as regional centers.
Harbor Regional Center is one of 21 such centers in California
operating under contract with the California Department of
Developmental Services. Our center began providing services in
1973. The legislation that created the regional center system is
called the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act. It
is named after Mr. Frank Lanterman, a California legislator with
vision who first conceived this unique and progressive
government-private sector partnership. The Lanterman Act sets
forth in detail the mandates under which regional centers
operate. The Lanterman Act is available on line at http://www.dds.ca.gov/ . Our
major source of funding is a combination of state and federal
government programs, but we also receive funding for specific
projects or purposes from foundations, businesses, and
individuals.
Harbor Regional Center is committed to providing support,
information, and opportunities for choice for all of our clients
and their families. Our goal is not only to provide you with
information, but also to provide you with multiple means of
communicating with us.
We think our website is an important tool to assist us in getting
much-needed, much-requested information out to our families as
well as other professionals in our field.
In this section, you will find information about Our Mission,
Vision, and Core Values, our Board of Trustees, our performance,
our policies, and of course, the people we serve. Just click on
the drop-down menu to learn more.
In addition to the website, we invite you to receive our e-news
bulletings by becoming a member of the HRC Email Network,
and to visit our Facebook
Page.
I also encourage you to take this opportunity to E-mail me your
thoughts, comments and suggestions. We’re pleased to have you
join our community of families and professionals concerned with
the lives of people with developmental disabilities.
Patrick Ruppe
Executive Director
Harbor Regional Center
Patrick.Ruppe@harborrc.org
Our History
California’s unique service system of Regional Centers was first
created in the 1960’s. Harbor Regional Center collaborated with
Frank D Lanterman Regional Center and Golden Gate Regional Center
to create these documentary videos, which tell the story of a
group of dedicated parents, professionals, and legislators who
believed that families needed a support system in the community,
as an alternative to institutionalizing their children. You can
view them at the links below to the F.D. Lanterman RC website.
Partners in Lifelong Support
History of Developmental Services
Documentary Videos
Our Mission
Harbor Regional Center provides quality services, support,
information and choices for people with developmental
disabilities and their families, to promote their participation
as valued neighbors in our communities.
HRC Board of Trustees
September, 2010
Our Vision
The Harbor Regional Center Vision describes how we hope to see
the world for people with developmental disabilities and their
families. We hope for a future in which:
- People with developmental disabilities live, learn, work and
enjoy their leisure time with families and friends in
typical communities.
- Families are respected and empowered with early, consistent,
and culturally sensitive services and supports.
- Families are provided with guidance as needed to help
them promote their children’s development, and ensure the
security and stability of their family.
- People with developmental disabilities and their family
members are informed and knowledgeable partners with Harbor
Regional Center, and they take a leadership role in the
governance of Center and in ensuring the success of the service
delivery system,
Our Core Values
Self Direction
People with developmental disabilities and their families who are
knowledgeable of their rights and opportunities are able to make
decisions on their own behalf, and are are in a position to
exercise control of, and responsibility for their own lives.
Harbor Regional Center is committed to providing support,
information, and choices that can assist the people we serve and
their families in making informed decisions.
Person-Centered Services
Harbor
Regional Center is committed to treating individuals and family
members with dignity and respect; helping individuals and
families set and reach their personal goals; recognizing the
right of individuals to make informed choices; building on the
strengths, gifts, talents, skills and contributions of the
individual and those who know and care about the individual;
seeking to understand individuals in the context of their age,
gender, culture, ethnicity, belief system, social and income
status, education, family, and any other factors that make them
unique. Harbor Regional Center is committed to Person-Centered
Services.
Inclusion
We are committed to providing services and supports in small,
individualized, integrated, and inclusive settings, in natural,
as opposed to special or segregated, environments and encouraging
the development of typical relationships. Harbor Regional Center
is dedicated to promoting opportunities for meaningful
interaction with people without disabilities, and active
participation in all aspects of community life including living,
learning, working and enjoying leisure activities.
Partnership
We recognize we have the best chance for success if Harbor
Regional Center and all the people we serve: families, service
providers, legislative leaders, and funding sources, work
actively together as partners who are committed to the vision and
philosophy set forth in the Lanterman Act. We value our
relationship with all of our partners, with whom we share
responsibility for working together with a common sense of
purpose, facing challenges and adversities and achieving results.
Evaluation, Innovation, Flexibility and the Pursuit of Excellence
We know effective organizations are not static. They are
continually re-examining their opera- tions, keeping abreast of
the latest technologies, and experimenting with innovative pilot
projects, procedures and studies to improve their service
delivery. We believe when public funds are expended in exemplary,
innovative ways, a worthy return on these investments is
realized, as well as advancement of the state-of-the-art.
Harbor Regional Center is committed to the pursuit of excellence
through this self-evaluation and renewal process. We strive to be
a learning and evolving organization. We promote the development
of well-trained, knowledgeable and dynamic staff and service
providers, with whom we share expectations for continuous
quality improvement and innovative approaches. We are committed
to the development of services and supports that expand horizons,
facilitate independent and productive lives, and support
inclusion in the community for people with developmental
disabilities.
Leadership
We take pride in our long history of compassionate service
delivery, combined with conscientious stewardship and
accountability. Our board, staff, clients, families, and service
providers are rich in experience and knowledge, and provide
valuable guidance in establishing the future direction of our
Center. Together we value openness, communication, accessibility,
fiscal responsibility and prudent effective use of available
resources. We work in partnership with our stakeholders in the
exchange of ideas, and in establishing the direction of the
Center, for the achievement of our shared goals. We are committed
to continuing to develop strong leaders for the future.
Cultural Sensitivity
Harbor Regional Center is located in a culturally diverse
geographic area and is enriched by the customs and traditions of
our neighbors. We recognize, however, that this very diversity,
complicated by the multiplicity of languages and dialects spoken
by those we serve and their families, challenges us in many ways.
We are committed to learn, to understand, and to interact in a
culturally sensitive way with all of those we serve and their
families. We know that our community, our organization, and our
services are greatly enhanced by the cultural mosaic which
characterizes the population we serve
Community-Based Services/Local Control
California’s developmental services system was designed by a
public policy leader of vision – Frank D. Lanterman – to provide
community-based, person and family-centered, coordinated services
and supports. This is accomplished through a remarkable and
effective private sector partnership which combines the best
features of private sector business practice with the most
compassionate and professional elements of the human services.
The importance of decentralized, local control of the governance
of the regional center is paramount. When all local participants
(the people we serve, their families, professionals and local
community leaders) shape the vision and direction of the Center,
a true sense of community is nurtured and this results in a
cohesive network of services and supports efficiently and
responsively delivered.
Transparency
Information provides individuals with developmental disabilities
and their families with the knowledge to make decisions, and to
be active participants in the planning and coordination of
services. Information about the people we serve, our services,
and our performance enables our community and legislative leaders
to better understand and strengthen our service system. Harbor
Regional Center believes in openness and transparency, and is
committed to listening and receiving feedback, and providing
timely, accurate and comprehensive information to those we serve,
their families, service providers, our board, our staff, and the
general public.
