Join us at Good Day Cafe on April 16 for a cup of coffee on us, thanks to CNB Bank, in celebration of inclusive employment and Community Bank Month. We hope you will stop by to enjoy a complimentary drip coffee, any size, available throughout the day (one per person). Whether you are just passing through or have a few moments to stay, thank you for being part of the Good Day Cafe community. As a reminder, Good Day Cafe is open from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm. We hope to see you on A

Jason and Steve, part of Strawberry Fields, recently won gold at the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games bowling competition for the second year in a row. Their journey to the podium began well before the competition. Weeks of practice and time spent together built their confidence on the lanes. With support from their families, coaches, and Direct Support Professionals, they showed up consistently, worked through challenges, and stayed committed to something they care

When Speech Language Pathologist Nicole Edwards returned from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association conference last year, she didn’t wait to put what she’d learned into practice. Within days, she was applying new techniques with the families she serves and seeing results. “I can’t capture how much the conference improved my clinical practice,” she said. “It is amazing how one piece of information can make such a difference in the service I provide.” Nicole’s confer

On a busy Saturday at Scraps & Skeins, volunteer Laura noticed something different about a woman walking through the door. “She was carrying her box like it was a treasure,” Laura recalls. “Her body language was different.” Laura doesn’t usually volunteer on Saturdays. She almost wasn’t there at all. But that morning, she had texted to see if an extra set of hands was needed and stopped in to help. She wasn’t assigned to donations. She just happened to be in the room. The wom

Strawberry Fields, Inc., now offers the ASCEND Career Accelerator Program, a comprehensive approach to employee growth that combines full tuition support, personalized career coaching, and robust benefits designed to support team members at every stage of their careers.  Through our partnership with Devereux, we are able to offer this expanded level of educational and career advancement support to our team. That investment strengthens the quality and consistency of care here

Direct Support Professionals are at the center of daily life at Strawberry Fields. They are the people who build trust, offer steady support, and help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities live full, meaningful lives. This year, we are proud to celebrate our first group of staff who completed the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) Certification program. This nine-month certification is more than professional training. It strength

If you’ve been part of the Strawberry Fields community for any length of time, there’s a good chance you’ve crossed paths with Matt Reynolds. Matt has been with Strawberry Fields for more than 26 years, supporting individuals, families, and staff across our intellectual disabilities residential programs. This winter, Matt stepped into a new role as Behavior Support Manager, which includes serving as the PBIS Coordinator, part of an organization-wide focus on strengthening con

The past few months have certainly passed quickly, marked by the holiday season and various festivities. Individuals had the opportunity to celebrate with family, friends, staff, and one another.  On December 17th, we hosted our annual Holiday Party at Park Forest Baptist Church. As in previous years, our wonderful volunteers, Linda and Dale Walker, prepared the turkeys, while the homes contributed a variety of delicious side dishes—coming together to create a truly festive h

“My time at Strawberry Fields has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. Working alongside a passionate and talented team of staff and board members, we have expanded opportunities, empowered individuals and strengthened a mission that changes lives every day. I am incredibly proud to have played such a part in shaping the organization Strawberry Fields has become” – Strawberry Fields Chief Executive Officer Cynthia “Cindy” Pasquinelli Throughout her decadeslong care

Sarah adjusts three-year-old AJ on her lap as he reaches for his water cup. “He’s a very feisty little guy,” she says with a smile. “Very popular with everyone.”    AJ was born with Down syndrome, a diagnosis Sarah and her husband, Brian, received before his birth after doctors discovered a related heart condition. That prenatal diagnosis meant AJ qualified for Pennsylvania’s Early Intervention program, supportive, in-home services for babies and toddlers with developmental d

For our intellectual disability and mental health residential programs, the holidays were made special thanks to the continued partnership of the State College Area Food Bank . Once again, they provided full Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, including turkeys and all the fixings for each program. Their generosity ensured that every home had what was needed to gather, share a meal, and celebrate together.  The Christmas meal holds a special place in our Intellectual Disability

You’re invited to join our partners at Devereux for the Family Resilience Conference , a free, virtual event on February 7, 2026 , focused on practical ways to build resilience in everyday life. Designed for parents, caregivers, siblings, advocates, and professionals, this conference creates space to learn, reflect, and connect around a shared understanding that resilience is built together.  Through engaging keynote speakers, interactive wellness activities, and thoughtful p

Twenty-five handmade baby quilts have found a new home with Strawberry Fields’ Early Intervention program, where they will offer comfort, warmth, and a welcoming space for infants and toddlers during therapy sessions. Early Intervention supports children from birth to age three who may experience developmental delays or disabilities. Services are individualized to each child and family and may include speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and developmental i

Each quarter, Strawberry Fields recognizes staff teams whose collaboration, care, and commitment make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people we serve. We are proud to celebrate our most recent TEAMS Award recipients from two programs: our Fry Drive intellectual and developmental disability community home and our State College Community Residential Rehabilitation program. The Fry Drive team earned recognition for their exceptional work supporting individuals with i

Thank you for voting Good Day Cafe as the Best Coffee Shop and Best Cup of Coffee in the State College Magazine Best Of Competition! Additionally, Scraps & Skeins received an honorable mention, tying for second place in Best Customer Service. These honors mean so much because they come from the people who walk through our doors, support our mission, and believe in inclusive workplaces and creative reuse. Your votes, your visits, your word-of-mouth support — you made this ha

At Strawberry Fields, mental health recovery is never one-size-fits-all. Our Community Residential Rehabilitation (CRR) program is transitional by design, offering people with serious mental illness the skills and support they need to move toward living more independently in the community.  Brandy Roane, Program Manager, explains: “Our Bellefonte CRR is more intense. The supports are closer at hand. Our State College program is designed for people ready to take on more indepe

At Strawberry Fields, our promise has always been the same: to provide safe, caring, and stable homes where every person feels valued and included. We are now taking another important step forward by implementing Devereux Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (D-PBIS). This is not about changing who we are or replacing what we do. It is about building on our strong foundation and continuing to grow. Our partnership with Devereux brings new tools, training, and proven

A Season of change and celebration at Strawberry Fields. As the leaves begin to turn, Fall reminds us change can be wonderful-and here at Strawberry Fields, we are embracing reflection, growth and celebration. In September, we proudly welcomed the state licensing team from the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) for our annual inspection. We’re pleased to report a successful completion of the licensing process, which included a thorough on-site review and record audit. Thi

Inclusive play, learning, and connection for toddlers and caregivers   Join Strawberry Fields’ Toddler Learning Center (TLC), a partnership program between Strawberry Fields and Schlow Library, held in Schlow Library’s Downsbrough Community Room. TLC offers a welcoming space where you can play with your child, connect with other parents, and learn from Chris Orndorff, M.Ed., early childhood specialist with Strawberry Fields, Inc.  Each class includes guided play, conversation

Strawberry Fields participated in the Centre County United Way Day of Caring, an annual community volunteer event that brings neighbors together to support local nonprofits. This year, nearly 20 volunteers from RE/MAX Centre Realty , First National Bank , McQuaide Blasko , and the Women's Supper Club completed four projects across our residential program homes. Over 80 hours of service went into landscaping, weeding, staining decks, and preparing yards for fall and winter. Th