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Until the late 1960’s, there were no community-based programs for people with mental retardation in South Carolina. They were cared for by family members within the home with no outside assistance, or were institutionalized. The State Department of Mental Health provided services for persons with mental retardation as well as those with mental illness. About this time, Earle Morris, a state senator from Easley was instrumental in establishing the Department of Mental Retardation as a separate entity. The first such arrangement in the United States. In 1968, Dr. Charles Barnette became State Director of the Department of Mental Retardation, and through his leadership, South Carolina became a leader in providing community programs for people with mental retardation. In October of 1971, the Greenwood County Association for Retarded Children determined the need for community-based programs, and as a result initiated Hope Center in an old vocational building at Brewer School. These programs began with eight clients, two staff, and a budget of $22,000. This was the first work activity center in the Southeast. The first community residence in the region was opened in 1974 on South Main Street in Greenwood, providing community-based home for eight females. During the next twenty-six years, nineteen community residences were developed along with supervised apartment living programs. The center was moved to the old Promise Land Elementary School building in 1976 and became known as Diversified Skills. At the suggestion of Dr. Charles Barnette, the Greenwood County Mental Retardation Board was established. The Board then considered inviting other counties to join in a cooperative effort to form a multi-county operation. Abbeville, Edgefield, McCormick and Saluda counties agreed, and the Piedmont Multi-County Mental Retardation Board was established. Through the leadership of Senator John Drummond and Representative Marion Carnell, in 1982, the Multi-County Board purchased the old Blake School on Phoenix Street from Greenwood School District 50 to house the programs. This was a milestone in launching a comprehensive delivery of services for persons with mental retardation. In order to reach further into the community, satellite centers were opened in Saluda in 1986 and in Ware Shoals in 1990. The Emerald Center Foundation was organized in 1986 for the purpose of providing financial support to the programs offered at Emerald Center. The mission of the Foundation is to serve as an advocate for those with mental retardation and special needs and their families in Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick, and Saluda counties, and to afford an opportunity for caring persons to participate in providing resources to support the programs of Emerald Center. In July of 1993, due to government restructuring, the South Carolina Department of Mental Retardation became the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs. At that time, Emerald Center expanded its services to include individuals with head and spinal cord injuries, autism, mental retardation, and related lifelong disabilities. The board’s name was changed to the Emerald Center Multi-County Board for Disabilities and Special Needs. Emerald Center is grateful for the tremendous support it has received from the communities, parents, legislators, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, churches, staff, volunteers, United Way, and other human service agencies. Because of this support, it is able to provide services for more than 800 people with disabilities and their families. Emerald Center will continue to provide quality services and to aggressively seek ways to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and special needs in Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick, and Saluda counties. Its central belief is that every individual has the right to experience a life with love, respect, and dignity; each individual has the right to make choices that will affect their lives and each individual deserves the opportunity to strive to reach their full potential.
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