Since 1956, we’ve provided compassionate, community-based services that empower our individuals to thrive.
What began as a small, volunteer-run initiative has grown into a dynamic network of programs supporting over 500 individuals across Tulare County. Yet through all the growth and change, our mission has remained the same: to assist individuals with disabilities achieve a more productive and independent life.
PSW was founded in 1956 by Lupe and Dean Hahn, along with a small group of passionate local residents. Driven by a desire to provide an alternative to institutional care, they opened PSW in a repurposed war surplus building behind Olive Street School. With an all-volunteer staff and just seven individuals enrolled, their commitment planted the seeds of a movement rooted in dignity, inclusion, and love for community. By the mid-1960s, PSW had already become California’s seventh adult rehabilitation facility and the only such program in a town of just 8,500 residents. With the help of community supporters like the Breakfast Lions Club, PSW moved into its own building in 1968 and continued expanding its reach and impact.
Decades of Growth and Impact
As the community's needs grew, so did PSW. Through the 1970s, '80s, and beyond, we added new program sites, launched transportation services, created employment-focused initiatives, and built infrastructure to support meaningful engagement for hundreds of individuals. From retail to woodworking, daily transportation to skill-building services, PSW continually adapts to meet people where they are and help them get where they want to go. Today, PSW operates out of multiple sites across the Central Valley, including a modern transportation center and several program hubs designed to promote accessibility, learning, and inclusion.
Where We Are Now
PSW now serves over 500 individuals, supported by a team of nearly 240 passionate and professional staff members. From day programs and behavior services to independent living, workforce development, and social enterprises like Value Village Thrift Store, Boomerang Recycling, and the Copy Center we’re proud to offer a diverse range of opportunities that help people grow and participate fully in their communities.
Still Rooted in Community.
As we look to the future, we remain grounded in the vision that inspired our beginning: building belonging, empowering individuals, and strengthening community. We believe in honoring every person’s potential, creating spaces where people feel seen and valued, and working together to create meaningful opportunities. We are PSW, and we’re proud to walk alongside individuals, families, and communities every step of the way.
Our mission guides everything we do. We believe every person deserves the opportunity to live a fulfilling, self-directed life. For our individuals, this means having access to the tools, support, and community they need to thrive.
How We Live Our Mission
We know that independence looks different for everyone. That’s why we provide individualized support, whether it’s developing life skills, gaining work experience, or building lasting social connections. With every service, we work toward a future where all people have the tools they need to thrive with dignity and opportunity.
PSW is not just a service provider; we’re a community of belonging. We work with families, caregivers, employers, and local partners to ensure every individual is seen, heard, and supported.
Together, we’re building more than independence; we’re building lives filled with possibility, pride, and inclusion.
At PSW, our work is grounded in values that reflect who we are and how we serve. These guiding principles shape our culture, our decisions, and our daily interactions with the people and communities we support.
We believe that every person, regardless of ability, deserves to feel respected, empowered, and included. Our core values are not just words; they are lived out through our programs, our people, and our partnerships.
Our mission and principles are not just words on a page; they’re promises we keep. They guide how we support individuals, work with families, train our team, and build relationships that lead to stronger, more inclusive communities.
Because when we lead with accountability, integrity, compassion, collaboration, and belonging, we create a lasting impact, together.
