Our Vision
The Children's Center has been bringing brighter futures to children with complex disabilities since 1974. From humble beginnings to the transdisciplinary program that it is today, one thing has remained constant – the level of commitment on the part of the staff to make a difference in a child’s life. The Children’s Center was built on the notion that every child should have access to the joys (and trials) of life, daily opportunities (and responsibilities), and the chance to build a bright, beautiful future. The specialists at The Center spend their days working to make this vision a reality.
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About Us
The Children’s Center is committed to providing communicative and developmental transdisciplinary services to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers while educating, training and supporting families, university students, and professionals.
Children enrolled at The Children’s Center present a wide variety of special needs and diagnoses, including (but not limited to) speech, hearing and language differences, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, rare genetic diagnoses, or other conditions related to premature birth.
What sets The Children’s Center apart from its counterparts is the way in which therapies are provided. Research has shown that early intervention is most successful when a comprehensive approach is taken toward a child’s development. What this means for the children enrolled in the Center is that the innovative therapies provided will be customized to each child’s communication and developmental needs and delivered with a cohesive team approach. This team includes speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, auditory-verbal therapists, an audiologist, a special educator, and a social worker.
In addition to providing exemplary services to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with complex disabilities at no cost, The Children’s Center is also a preeminent training facility. By providing pre-professional training to students at USM and other universities and colleges in the areas of speech-language pathology, audiology, special education, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, nursing, and recreational therapy, The Children’s Center is helping to mold the next generation of committed specialists in Southern Mississippi and beyond.
Mississippi is lacking opportunities for quality, comprehensive early intervention services, which are essential for the development of young children with disabilities.
The Children's Center is filling that void by providing innovative therapies for children under 5 with disabilities while supporting and training their families.
As a result, these children and their families have the skills, resources, and confidence needed to face everyday life and build the foundation for a brighter future.
Through The Children’s Center’s direct services, pre-professional and professional training, ad hoc consultations, and interagency collaboration and partnerships, thousands of children with disabilities and their families are better served each year throughout Mississippi and our region.
As a non-profit organization, The Children’s Center relies heavily on the support of businesses and individuals in our community. When you support The Children’s Center, your help has a direct impact on infants, toddlers, and children with complex disabilities in Southern Mississippi. There are many ways in which YOU can take part in this life-changing work. Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on events and opportunities, and reach out to us for more information or to schedule a tour.