History

In 1992, the Community Planning Council of the United Way of Greenville County completed a study of services in Greenville County, South Carolina for people with developmental challenges. It found that while many programs existed in the community, they were located throughout the county and were at times not well coordinated.

This meant that many children and adolescents with developmental needs had to travel to several locations at different times, and that care was sometimes duplicative or incomplete.

The study recommended that the programs co-locate in one site and that they be linked by a common entity.

The Center for Developmental Services (CDS) was incorporated to address this recommendation. In March of 2000, CDS opened and began operations. The use of the 35,000 square-foot facility was donated by the First Presbyterian Church of Greenville in the form of a rent-free lease. In its colorful facility, CDS brings six of Greenville County's organizations under one roof to address developmental issues in collaboration. It offers a common intake and scheduling process, a shared medical record department, Spanish translation and outreach, activities and programs for families and the community. Now parents are able to call with their questions and be scheduled with the appropriate service providers within CDS.