Specialties
Woods Services is a 501(c)(3) non-profit multi-service population health management and advocacy organization that along with its five affiliate organizations provides innovative, comprehensive and integrated health, education, housing, workforce, behavioral health and case management services to more than 18,000 children and adults in the intellectual and developmental disability, child welfare, behavioral and brain trauma public health sectors who have complex and intensive medical and behavioral healthcare needs.
Woods applies evidenced-based treatments and a public health approach to develop innovative and individualized supports that empower people with disabilities and challenges to reach their highest potential.
We were founded a century ago by visionary Mollie Woods with two simple goals - to advance the quality of life and standard of care for individuals with disabilities. She gained international recognition for her work in helping children with exceptional needs experience the joy of achievement and lead fulfilling lives.
Today, we've broadened her mission to serve people of all ages and levels of care with a unique model, The Exceptional Care Model that drives greater achievement for individuals - and best practices for the industry. Just as Mollie did over 100 years ago, we believe our mission and model are one in the same: Exceptional People. Fulfilling Lives.
History
Established in 1913.
For nearly a century, Woods Services has responded to the unique challenges of people with special needs. Its roots lie in the vision of Mollie Woods who, as a Philadelphia schoolteacher, established a setting that could provide care for the exceptional child.
Mollie developed a curriculum of work, play, and socialization that would meet each child's particular needs. By Woods' 25th anniversary, the school had proven to be successful as one of the first residential care and training centers for children who could not thrive in traditional educational programs. In 1948, Mollie established a Board of Trustees to assume responsibility for the management of The Woods Schools. Nearly a century after its founding, her vision has evolved into a diverse, innovative, and fiscally healthy organization-Woods Services. Today Woods is more than a school-it is a private, nonprofit organization that provides a broad range of services to people with special needs and challenges.
Meet the Manager: Diana R.
Diana L. Ramsay, MPP, OTR, FAOTA, President and Chief Executive Officer - Ramsay received her Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Towson University and was the John J. Sexton Fellow in Social Policy at the Univ. of Maryland where she earned a Master of Public Policy degree. She is a nationally-recognized leader in behavioral healthcare and community-based programs. Prior to assuming her current position with Woods, she led operations integration and clinical redesign for Johns Hopkins Health System. Prior to that, she established herself in the mental health services field with more than 20 years of experience with the Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Health System, one of the nation's top 10 psychiatric health systems, and with Way Station, Inc., a nationally recognized community rehabilitation program and subsidiary of the Sheppard Pratt Foundation.