CRCC history

The program grew quickly and a full-time coordinator was hired to manage the program in 1991.

The idea for CRCC started to germinate in 1992, as the conflagrations of the Los Angeles riots were just beginning to subside.

In 1994, the Children’s Center formed a collaborative with the Southern Kennebec Child Development Corporation (SKCDC) to create the First Friends program.

In 1996, a mobile unit was added to the location for additional office space as an interim measure while the organization explored the possibility of expansion.

Because of the demand for care of older children and adolescents, a third site was opened in 1999.

In 2000, the Targeted Case Management program was created to assist parents as they work through the range of emotions and maze of services they experience as parents of a child with special needs.

In 2001, the Children’s Center opened an office for the Targeted Case Management program in the Federated Church in the town of Skowhegan, allowing the program to serve both Kennebec and Somerset Counties.

As a result of their hard work and the generous support of the community, in May of 2003 the Children’s Center officially cut the ribbon on the newly renovated and expanded building.

The first annual ChildServe Run for the Kids was held on May 22, 2004.

In 2005, a grant from the United Way of Mid-Maine provided the Children’s Center with the opportunity to begin offering educational workshops for parents and caregivers of children with special needs in Kennebec and Somerset Counties.

The American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute emerged from a research project and convening of young Muslim leaders from around the country in 2006.

The Stelter-Fisher Transitional Care Unit opened in July 2007.

The consolidation of Daycare for Exceptional Children with ChildServe was completed, and ChildServe Woodland Center opened on January 1, 2009, providing specialized daycare services.

Join Children’s Respite Care Center in celebrating their history, as well as the vision for their very bright future, on June 8th from 5-7pm at the Northwest Location, 2010 N. 88th Street.

2011 – CRCC released the latest Role & Function Study results.

In 2013, the Children’s Center welcomed a new Executive Director, Jeffrey Johnson, LCSW, MBA. That same year, the organization began offering new and expanded programs for mental health services and community-based rehabilitative support services.

In April of 2014, CRCC opened its beautiful, custom-built southwest location in the heart of Millard.

In 2015, the organization continues to grow and develop through the purchase of property adjacent to the current building in Augusta to increase capacity for services at the Children’s Center.

2016 – CRCC eUNIVERSITY: CRCC’s online continuing education platform was launched August 1, 2016.

2017 – A fourth review and revision of the Code of Ethics was performed and approved by the CRCC Board of Directors.

Also taking off in 2020 was our most recent, and largest capital campaign yet, raising funding to expand the flagship site in Augusta, and provide services for 100+ more children and their families in need.

2021 – In partnership the University of Massachusetts-Boston Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) and the University of Wisconsin-Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI), CRCC developed the National Training Center for Transformational Rehabilitation Leadership (NTCTRL) program.