Our History

CCRI began in 1977 when forward-looking parents got together to discuss a dream: a group home for individuals with disabilities. It would be a place where loved ones could live and thrive in a family-like setting. With state and community help, the dream became reality: a group home was developed. It’s success led to a second group home, followed by continued growth and several other innovative programs and services specially suited for people with disabilities.

In our early days, discrimination was rampant. People with disabilities had always been hidden in large institutions. Therefore, when the movement into local communitys started, people were frightened. They weren’t used to seeing individuals with disabilities. They had no idea what to expect. We’ve come a long ways from those early days. Today, the people we serve are your next door neighbors.

When it began, CCRI stood for Clay County Residence, Inc. Today it stands for Creative Care for Reaching Independence, reflecting the great strides that have been made in helping individuals with disabilities reach their potential and achieve the highest possible quality of life. The mission of CCRI is to empower people with disabilities through creative care.