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The Cunningham Board and Staff worked hard to make
Cunningham not only modern, but more professional. The
changes made by 1968 clearly show that Cunningham had
changed. It now met the 1964 Child Welfare of America
League definition of a treatment center with its social
work/therapeutic focus. 
Intake policy now required the acceptance of children
deemed dependent but not delinquent by the court. Referral
from the court or other social welfare agency was the
only route to admission. Individual referrals would
no longer be accepted. One of the new policies Cunningham
adopted in the early 60's was acceptance of children
regardless of race, creed or color.
The average age of the children was now 13 years and
the average length of stay was 2.5 years. Discharge
no longer depended on the restabilization of the family
home but on the end of treatment as decided by the professional
child care staff. By 1976 Cunningham had completed its
transition and was firmly established as a residential
treatment center for youth who had come out of abusive
and neglectful situations.
Next: Cunningham Children's Home in 1995>>
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