South Central Community Services, Inc. was founded in 1970 by residents of the Chatham and Avalon Park communities, in response to a lack of mental health services for a growing number of children with emotional and behavioral disorders. These children were being excluded from the public schools on the South side of Chicago. To meet the needs of this unique population, the South Central Community Health Service Organization (SCCHSO) was formed and a special education school established with initial funding from the Department of Mental Health.
