About the Agency

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Peter James Development and Independent Living, now Peter James Behavioral Health, founded in 2012 by Peter J. Pruitt III. Pete Pruitt, Executive Director/CEO, Akron native, is one of the most respected and experienced Special Education educators around. His passion for helping and mentoring others came about after having a rough childhood. Pete states his childhood consisted of him and his mother enduring years of verbal and physical abuse from his stepfather. Pete says his stepfather behavior didn’t influence him to become abusive but taught him what NOT to do and how to treat people. Pete believes his struggles as a child developed a passion to help others, especially the youth. Over the last 25+ years he has worked in residential facilities, schools, and within the community. He has worked with children and adults to empower to support them in their needs. He understands that more youth and families need strategies and support to live in happiness. His goal was to open residential facilities to youth and adults to help them live mindfulness lives. April 2012 he opened his 1st Residential Care Facility in Cleveland with 4 residents. 

July 2019 he partnered with his longtime friend Chris “Beanie” Wells (Former NFL Player) owner of Clara St. LLC to expand his Residential Care Facilities in Maple Hts. and Akron. Peter James also partners with Ohio Home Group Care (CEO Chris Wells) which is licensed through Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) to provide behavioral health services for individuals with intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

March 2020 Peter James Development became an Ohio Department of Mental and Addiction Services (OhioMAS) Certified Behavioral Health Agency.  Over the years Pete became aware of the need for more quality behavioral health agencies. His experience working as an educator helped him recognize schools needed more mental health services in and out of school. He saw the need for more counseling for families and the community. He is passionate about helping others and decided to act and not continue to watch youth and adults not receive needed services.