The History of CCDS
Coastal Center for Developmental Services, Inc. (CCDS) has deep roots in the Savannah community that over the years have woven together to become the agency that it is today.
 
In the 1950’s and 1960’s, CCDS had its beginnings in small local programs for children with special needs started by parents like Lillie Mae Kicklighter.  Programs at St. Pius Center and at St. John’s Center merged in the early 1970’s under the Chatham Association for Retarded Citizens to form Chatham Association Center (CAC), which served children and adults.
 
In the late-1970’s, CAC became its own organization (independent of the CARC) and began developing innovative, benchmark work programs for adults in the early 1980’s.  The 1990’s saw the agency’s name change to Coastal Center for Developmental Services, Inc. and an expansion of services that reached 15 surrounding coastal Georgia counties.  Since 2000, CCDS has continued to expand opportunities in community employment and has established its subsidiary corporation - Quantum, Inc. - as an essential force in modern industry.  
 
 
Milestones
 
2008
  • All CCDS staff in the case management, day habilitation and supported employment programs enrolled in the College of Direct Support with the goal of earning certification for providing direct support services.
  • CCDS Community Employment Services helped launch Savannah’s Project SEARCH at St. Joseph’s / Candler with local partners.  The innovative program, modeled and overseen by the original Project SEARCH creators, develops an internship program for high school seniors with disabilities with the hopes of employment upon graduation.
2007
  • Chatham Industries, Inc. changed its name to Quantum, Inc.
 
2006
  • CCDS was awarded the Training and Technical Assistance for Providers (T-TAP) grant as one of the five national sites for the T-TAP project in 2006. CCDS implemented a new approach to customized job placements in competitive community jobs.    
2005
  • In July, Chatham Industries, Inc. became the subsidiary of CCDS and established its own board of directors and bylaws.  
1999
  • In January, CCDS moved its administrative, business, community employment, and service coordination departments into the renovated building that once housed the Chatham County Juvenile Detention Center.  The Day Habilitation Program followed in June.    
1997
  • In July, CCDS was awarded a contract to provide Service Coordination / CET services for an additional eight counties – Appling, Bulloch, Candler, Evans, Jeff Davis, Tattnall, Toombs, and Wayne.          
1996
  • In February, CCDS was chosen by the Home of Your Own Alliance Committee as one of five expertise teams in the state to assist individuals with developmental disabilities in home ownership.          
  • In May, CCDS was awarded a contract to provide Service Coordination / Clinical Evaluation Team (CET) services for Bryan, Camden, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh counties.          
  • In June, CCDS was awarded a contract to expand its Supported Employment Services to Bryan, Liberty, and Long counties.          
  • In July, CCDS was awarded a contract to provide Service Coordination / CET services for Chatham and Effingham counties.    
1995
  • In October, People First of Savannah was established with assistance from CCDS staff.    
1994
  • In July, Chatham Association Center adopted a new name, Coastal Center for Developmental Services, Inc. (CCDS)  
1992
  • In March, CAC staff trained more than 100 individuals with developmental disabilities in the specialized work programs to use public transportation for work at CAC.  
1990
  • In July, CAC was awarded the state’s first fixed-rate contracts by the Division of MHMRSA to provide specialized and supported employment services.  
1985
  • CAC began one of the first Supported Employment Programs in the state of Georgia.  
1980
  • The Chatham Association Center (CAC) established the first work activity program in Chatham County for individuals with developmental disabilities.