In 1978 in Forks Washington, in the back room of Northwestern Bank parents met to discuss how to access specialized preschool and therapies for their developmentally delayed children. By 1979 they had started a preschool in the Baptist church and by 1981 had a fully inclusive childcare/ preschool that they had remodeled with volunteers in the community and some help from the County.
Concerned Citizens for Special Children formed under the non-profit rules of 501 (c ) (3) and began a business venture that has grown over three decades to encompass two counties.
In 1990 they purchased 3.5 acres in downtown Forks, Washington and proceeded to remodel and renovate all the buildings. Expanding the client base by increasing their licensed capacity for childcare to 90, building an Adult Family Home, and then adding a Teen Center. Each phase of expansion specifically addressed the changing needs of the community and it’s residents. The community came out in force to put a new roof on the 146 by 36 foot building, completing the project in just two days, start to finish.
The Board and founders of Concerned Citizens were content to have their business confined to the small town of Forks. However their reputation for quality care grew and they were asked to take on programs in Port Angeles and then in Jefferson County 60 and 102 miles away. The name was shortened to Concerned Citizens in 1994 to accommodate the expansion of the agency including adults with disabilities and finally seniors. Over the years Concerned Citizens has held over twenty Federal and State contracts, has retained United Way dollars, and had various other funding sources and donations to keep the business alive.
Over the years the Board of Concerned Citizens has met many challenges and have always been able to rise to the occasion, finding solutions, growing and changing to meet the needs of the communities they serve. The community has also supported them in many ways with donations, volunteers and constant support.
Projects are often done with minimal capital, using volunteers and innovation to achieve the goal. Concerned Citizens has been able to pride itself in not only keeping the agency solvent but also expanding in some way almost every year it has been in business.
For the last ten years, Forks with a population of 3,000 has undergone major economic changes, with the loss of timber and fisheries revenue jobs. Concerned Citizens contributed their services and changed their delivery system to accommodate the needs and challenges of the people of Forks as the economy changed, giving back to the community in many ways. Through these years Concerned Citizens was able to maintain a strong presence in the community and through careful management grew and became stronger.
The Board of Directors and employees of Concerned Citizens enjoy a unique relationship based on common goals and objectives that drive the agencies success. Many of the employees and board members have been with the agency for twenty plus years which speaks to the dedication and ultimately the strong infrastructure that keeps the agency intact.
