Creative Community Services, a private, nonprofit organization located in Norcross, Georgia was started in 1982 by Executive Director Sally Buchanan. Sally has made it her mission in life to help children and adults with special needs and has led CCS to become one of the best agencies serving children and adults in Georgia and the United States. Her frustration, compassion and dream to make a difference over 31 years ago are what started it all.
Sally began volunteering with children with developmental disabilities as a teenager at Tucker High School. Later she turned this passion for volunteering into a career with a public agency that focused on adults with developmental disabilities. But this passion turned into frustration when she realized that limitations at the agency prevented her from viewing the consumer as a whole person and left services somewhat fragmented. With support from friends in the community, Sally opened Creative Community Services in 1982 with five adults with developmental disabilities.
In 1988, a House Representative approached Sally about her success with adults with developmental disabilities and proposed a new client – children who were severely abused and neglected. Up to this point, kids throughout the State of Georgia with severe mental health problems were sent to other States because no community-based program existed to meet their specialized needs. Sally took on the challenge and began a therapeutic foster care (TFC) program that same year with one child. CCS currently serves between 45 and 50 children with ever expanding capacity.
Over the past several years, support for community-based services has grown and CCS has seen increased success in individual consumers’ lives. Instead of catching children at the end of the spectrum who have failed their way through the system, CCS is preventing children from ever going into institutionalized placements. As a result of institutions serving individuals with Developmental Disabilities shutting down, the State has begun to open Medicaid waivers, bringing needed money to serve children and adults who, with supports, may live successfully in the community.
With passion, dedication and hard work Sally and the CCS team continue to provide both children and adults hope by encouraging independent living that creates involved, engaged citizens and community members. More information is available at: www.ccsgeorgia.org.
“It has been so exciting to see our team grow from one staff, one child, and one adult, to over 140 mission driven employees who are serving over 200 children, families, and adults.” -Sally Buchanan, CCS Executive Director
