Agency Histories

The first decades of existence of the Utah State Training School were a time of tremendous growth. Within 18 months of the original opening of the school, the population had grown to 232 individuals, and grew to over 500 by the end of the first decade, eventually peaking at a population of over 800 individuals. These “children” were initially only provided with the minimum amount of the care that the very low staff ratios, approximately 20:1 could sustain. It was in the following decades that the facility would begin to include the programs and services that they have today, including the recreation, psychology, social work and workshop programs.

The Developmental Center would experience a great push forward into bigger, better and more useful programs during the 1980s and 1990s. As a result of greater scrutiny brought about by Title XIX surveying, and lawsuits brought against the center, the population of the facility began to shrink, resulting in more than half of the individuals moving into placements with community providers. This created an opportunity for there to be better staffing ratios, and for a greater emphasis to be placed upon active treatment and vocational programs. These changes have transformed the USDC into a leader in the region in providing high qua lity care for the most difficult individuals.

(Utah State Developmental Center website, http://usdc.utah.gov/about/; downloaded 7 December 2015.)

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Welcome to the USDC's Website! Sitting on 250 beautiful acres our campus is located at the mouth of American Fork Canyon along the foothills of Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. The Developmental Center was established in 1932 under the direction of then Governor Dern. Feather Bench on the outskirts of American Fork was selected as the location for the Developmental Center over thirty other different locales across the State. Most of the original buildings have been replaced with more modern state of the art facilities. Citizens are served from across the entire state of Utah under the direction of the Utah Department of Human Services and the Division of Services for People with Disabilities. The Utah State Developmental Center provides 24-hour residential care and is Utah’s only State-operated intermediate care facility for people with intellectual disabilities. The Center offers intensive medical, behavioral, psychological and dental services to those over the age of 18. Admissions are limited and require an intensive screening process. The USDC Mission is "dedicated to providing an array of resources and supports for people with disabilities with complex or acute needs in Utah” The Developmental Center serves as a resource for the entire State of Utah. As other providers in the State of Utah struggle to provide care for individuals with complex emotional, medical and behavioral issues USDC is in the unique position of providing most of the essential services needed in a single location. The Utah State Developmental Center takes great pride in serving the most vulnerable citizens of Utah. Over 700 professional and support staff engage in the care and treatment of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Medical care and nursing is av ailable 24 hours a day. Various therapies such as Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Recreation Therapy and counseling are all located in one spot. This team of providers in conjunction with family and friends work to provide the most independence possible in a safe environment for everyone who lives here. I appreciate your interest in the Utah State Developmental center and welcome any questions you might have about our treatment programs and career opportunities.

(Utah State Developmental Center website, http://usdc.utah.gov/; downloaded 7 December 2015.)

The Utah State Developmental Center is a residential facility for the mentally retarded. Until 1991, the facility was known as the Utah State Training School.