Elwyn Announces Affiliation with Garfield Park Academy in N.J.
MEDIA, Pa. (Oct. 13, 2026) — Elwyn, one of the nation’s oldest and most respected nonprofit human services organizations, today announced an affiliation with Garfield Park Academy (GPA), a New Jersey state-approved private, nonprofit special education school serving students with learning, social, emotional and behavioral challenges.
The affiliation marks Elwyn’s first educational affiliation in New Jersey and brings together two organizations with deep experience providing individualized education, clinical support and therapeutic services to students with complex needs.
Through the affiliation, Elwyn will assume operational oversight and long-term stewardship of Garfield Park Academy, building upon the school’s more than three decades of service to students, families and school districts throughout the region. GPA is led by Dr. Steven Morse and Kerrie Morse, who plan to remain aboard during the transition before retiring following decades of service to the school.
“This is a natural extension of Elwyn’s mission and our longstanding commitment to helping children with disabilities and behavioral health challenges reach their full potential,” Elwyn President and CEO Charles S. McLister said. “Garfield Park Academy has built an outstanding program grounded in individualized education, clinical expertise and a deep belief in what every student can achieve. Those values are closely aligned with Elwyn’s, and we are honored to help carry that work forward for the next generation of students and families.”
Founded in 1992 by Dr. Gladys Charlotte Morse, Garfield Park Academy provides evidence-based special education services designed to address each student’s academic, social, emotional and behavioral needs. Located in Willingboro, N.J., the school serves students ages 5 through 21 and currently operates 16 classes grouped according to students’ age, ability and individual needs. The school accepts students from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
“After so many years of serving this community, my greatest priority has been making sure the school, its mission and the children and families who depend on us are in the right hands for the future. I believe we have found exactly that in Elwyn,” Dr. Morse said. "They share our commitment to helping children with special needs reach their fullest potential, and they have the experience, resources and values to preserve what makes this school so special while helping it grow and thrive. I could not ask for a better fit or feel more confident that our students, families, staff and community will continue to be well served for many years to come.”
The affiliation builds on Elwyn’s extensive experience in specialized education. On its historic campus in Media, Pa., Elwyn operates the Davidson School, the largest state-approved private school in Pennsylvania, providing individualized education and therapeutic supports to children and young adults with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, neurological and sensory conditions, behavioral needs and other complex challenges.
“Both organizations understand that successful special education is about much more than what happens in a classroom,” McLister said. “It is about understanding the whole student and bringing together educators, clinicians and families to provide the specialized and individualized support each student needs.”
For Garfield Park Academy, the affiliation provides the opportunity to draw on Elwyn’s decades of educational, clinical and organizational expertise while ensuring the long-term future of the school in the community. It also continues the mission that has guided GPA since its founding, with programs designed to help students overcome barriers to learning, strengthen self-reliance and prepare for success in school, work and life.
About Elwyn
Founded in 1852, Elwyn is a premier, internationally recognized human services nonprofit organization. We are the provider of choice for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as physical, medical, emotional, and behavioral health challenges. More at elwyn.org.
Media Contact: Kurt Knaus P: 717-571-5687 | e: kurt@ceislermedia.com
