201 West Merrick Road Freeport, NY 11520
516 379-0900
516 379-0900
It is the mission of Woodward to create a learning environment where all students and families have the opportunity and support necessary to thrive academically, socially and emotionally. Through a joint mission, Woodward’s dedicated teachers, clinical team and other professional staff work to ensure our students feel safe, heard, understood, supported, and equipped to learn. Woodward’s staff serves a critical role in our educational system, by facilitating social and emotional learning (SEL) which in turn, creates successful learners who are better prepared for further education, employment, and independent living.
The founding of the Woodward Children’s Center can be traced to Freeport resident Gertrude K. Berman who established a school in 1951 that was originally named for her. It was later incorporated with the name honoring Dr. Luther E. Woodward, a noted specialist with the New York State mental health department who had been supportive of her early efforts to develop the school.
As creator and executive director of the program and school that became “Woodward,” Gertrude Berman became a pioneer in developing special education and mental health services for youth with severe emotional and educational disabilities and an advocate for early identification of, and treatment for, infantile autism. Professionals, students, university and state education personnel visited to observe and learn about these areas of teaching and treatment.
Ms. Berman developed relationships with governors, county executives, school districts and political representatives as well as sports and entertainment notables.
Her dedication to professional development led to many leadership roles in varied vocational and special-education related community services. Ms. Berman served on local, county, state, national and international human service organizations such as the Council for the Handicapped; International Rehabilitation Association; and the World Health Organization.
Gertrude Berman was a tireless promoter and advocate for the highest quality education and treatment for her children. She retired in 1979, moved to Danbury, CT and as a social worker, made a similar impact. Gertrude K. Berman passed during March 2008 at age 95.
Woodward Children’s Center was named for Luther E. Woodward, a pioneer in the field of children’s mental health. He was born in 1897 and died in 1961. Dr. Woodward earned a Ph.D. in education from Teacher’s College, Columbia University. With further graduate study he completed the requirements for graduation from the New York School of Social Work, and established himself in the profession of psychiatric social work.
Dr. Woodward began his professional career as a Lutheran minister. He had received both an A.M. degree and a B.D. degree from Gettysburg Theological Seminary. Prior to his formal training in social work during his eight years as a pastor in Brooklyn, NY from 1924 – 1932, he worked with the varied problems of his parishioners and he began to see the impact of disturbed relationships between people and determined to seek effective and understanding ways of dealing with them. He began to provide individual counseling related to parent-child relationships. In 1932, Dr. Woodward joined the clinical staff of the Bureau of Child Guidance of New York City. There he quickly saw the limitations of a case-work approach in working with children and the need for a deepening insight on the part of all those who touch the lives of troubled children. This led Dr. Woodward to begin educating teachers, nurses, and community agencies. He developed and led discussion groups for parents.
In 1943, the National Committee for Mental Hygiene sought Dr. Woodward’s services. Until 1949 Dr. Woodward worked on mental health problems resulting from the war and the readjustment of servicemen after the war’s end. When he left this position he joined the (now) New York State Office of Mental Health where he became the Senior Community Mental Health Representative.
Dr. Woodward wrote a number of articles on social work and vocational rehabilitation. He edited several professional journals. He hosted a radio program for parents and through the program educated parents on child development and the means of laying mental health foundations in the years of childhood. These programs were reproduced on records and broadcast on over two hundred radio stations across the country.
Dr. Woodward was Parent Education Consultant for the Visiting Nurse Services of New York. In this role he conducted parent-training groups for expectant parents. Dr. Woodward was sought nationally for his expertise.
Woodward Children’s Center honors Dr. Woodward and carries out his dedication to the idea that all those who touch the lives of children must have deepened insight to the needs of both the child and the parents. The parent has always been a key part of the treatment team at Woodward Children’s Center and it is strongly believed that a parent who is fully informed and aware will significantly increase the child’s ability to grow emotionally.
© 2023 Woodward Children’s Center.
