July 14, 1965
President Lyndon B. Johnson signs The Older Americans Act into law. In addition to creating the Administration on Aging, it authorized grants to States for community planning and services programs, as well as for research, demonstration and training projects in the field of aging.
Later that year, The Community Council of the Atlanta Area, Inc. (which later became the United Way) found that no existing agency in the Atlanta area served or was interested in expanding current services to meet the needs of the aging population.
SCS emerged in response to that need, and has remained on the cutting edge of senior services for more than 40 years.
Our original mission was to help mobilize community resources, impacting on priority needs of the elderly; to assist in the development of plans and programs for the prevention and treatment of community problems; and, to help implement these plans and programs by creating the necessary resources in the community. The Agency's purpose and mission have not changed significantly over the years. Our mission continues to focus on providing multiple services that enable the elderly to remain as independent as possible in their homes and communities for as long as possible.
SCS now has over 40 years of extensive experience in operating programs for the elderly. Its historical contributions include advocacy, intergenerational and community education programs long before they were in vogue. SCS' notable accomplishments include:
1966-1973
Foster Grandparents Program (FGP) began as a national demonstration project to provide part-time employment for low-income older persons. The project became a national program funded by ACTION and was transferred to EOA when federal regulations prohibited subcontracting.
1968-1970
Senior Child Care Program trained older persons to staff childcare centers. By 1968 over 100 persons were trained.
1969-1974
The Model Cities Child Care Project established two childcare centers and family day care homes using elderly persons as childcare providers. The program was developed and then transferred to another agency.
The Model Cities Senior Personal Service Project set up volunteer advocates, Meals on Wheels, Adult Day Care and nutrition services.
1969-1975
The Association of Senior Citizen Clubs representing more than 2,500 seniors advocated for change and offered discounts, recreational, and social activities.
SCS played a leadership role in the development of County Councils on Aging in Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb, Clayton, and Douglas Counties.
1970
Good Neighbor Project employed seniors to help seniors shop, bake, clean, and mend.
1971
SCS sponsored the Metropolitan Atlanta White House Conference on Aging.
1972
SCS established the first Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in Georgia.
The first Fixed Income Consumer Counseling Project in the Southeast developed this year by SCS.
1975
The National council of Jewish Women transferred Golden Age Employment Services and the Golden Age Information and Referral Services to SCS.
1976
SCS contracted with the City of Atlanta for First Year Community Development funds to plan, coordinate, and deliver services to Atlanta's elderly and handicapped.
1977
SCS purchased the thirty-four (34) Tenth Street property. The area surrounding the proposed center was middle to lower-middle class area with a mixture of small business. This was about the same time MARTA constructed the mid-town MARTA station. SCS' 26,000 square feet building consumed some of MARTA's right- of-way, but was later remodeled to accommodate changes by MARTA.
SCS established the Phoenix Club to encourage group discussion and intellectual exchanges within the community.
SCS provided the elderly with an alternative to nursing home placement through a special project under the Alternative Living Services Program funded by the Georgia Department of Medical Assistance.
SCS became the recipient of the 16 B2 Urban Mass Transportation Program for capital grant funds to purchase vehicles to transport elderly and handicapped persons in Fulton County.
SCS developed the Nursing Home Ombudsman Program to operate in the seven-county metropolitan region.
1979
The Atlanta Multi-Purpose Senior Center was planned and developed, which began operation in June 1979, at the 34 Tenth Street facility.
SCS developed a comprehensive outreach program to the Homebound Elderly under a CETA grant.
1982
Homemaker Services for elderly residents established by SCS in Fulton County.
1984
Home Repair/Chore Services program developed by SCS to help older persons maintain their homes.
Funds from the Job Training Partnership Act Older Workers Program provided recruitment and outreach for job training for low-income older workers.
Expansion of the Agency's employment services included training, placement, and employment of low-income workers under Title V of the Older Americans Act.
1987 - 1988
After ten years at the 34 Tenth Street location, the agency sold their HQ location to L.J. Hooker Company for $3 million. The funds from this sale were placed in a Trust Fund until the Senior Citizen's Foundation was established in February 1988, with the intent to purchase a Senior Citizen Complex some time in the future.
SCS hosted its first "A Meal To Remember," which netted $46,000.
1989 - 1990
SCS' second "A Meal To Remember" raised $85,000.
The SCS administrative staff moved to the 1375 Peachtree location. All services operated from this facility with the exception of Transportation and Meals on Wheels which was housed at the Bishop Street facility.
1991
SCS reorganized its services and operations for more cost-effective efficiency, and retained the following programs: Home Delivered Meals (HDM), Adult Day Care (ADC), Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), Foster Grandparent Program (FGP), Transportation and Case Management in support of HDM and ADC.
1992
SCS was the recipient of a $192,000 grant from the Whitehead Foundation
1993
SCS purchased the 1705 Commerce Drive facility from Provident National Assurance Company, a Tennessee corporation, for $612,502. The building was approximately 31,000 square feet and set on 1.66 acres.
SCS was the recipient of WXIA's Community Service Award, which also included a $50,320 check to the Agency, the largest gift ever given to an agency.
SCS received a grant of $100,000 from the UPS Foundation to build a commercial kitchen.
1994 - 1995
All programs and services were transferred to the 1705 Commerce Drive facility.
SCS' Capital Campaign, chaired by Jim Arnett, raised $2.8 million.
1998
On January 27, 1998, SCS hosted a dedication ceremony for its new facility at 1705 Commerce Drive.
SCS' "A Meal To Remember" raised a record $255,000.
SCS re-acquired the Senior Companion Program ("SCP").
1999
SCS continues to lead the charge in providing quality services to the elderly, and reorganized its program offerings to better meet the needs of the community: Adult Day Care (ADC); Home Delivered Meals (HDM); Foster Grandparent Program (FGP); Senior Companion Program (SCP); Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP); and, SeniorNet Computer Learning Center.
SCS' "A Meal To Remember" raised a remarkable $311,000.
2000
SCS hosted a dedication ceremony for the new nurse's station in the Adult Day Care Center.
SCS hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the SeniorNet Computer Room, which provided the space and computers for 12 participants in each individual class. Every class offering continued to carry a waiting list.
2002
SCS begins HOMES (Home Owner Maintenance and Enhancement for Seniors) for homebound and/or needy seniors.
2003
SCS enters collaborative Joint Venture with Project Open Hand and Visiting Nurse Health System to provide comprehensive care continuum for Fulton County seniors. Collaborative is first of its kind in region.
2004
SCS helps establish the Atlanta Home Repair Network - a collaboration of home repair providers.
2005
SCS celebrated 40 years of service to the aging community.
The CareShare program is added to the list of SCS services available to Atlanta's seniors.
2006
Throughout the years, SCS has served the elderly of Atlanta through direct services, community education, advocacy, student training, planning, and technical assistance. SCS has enjoyed a rich and fulfilling past, and looks forward to a prosperous future.
SCS enables seniors to maintain their independence and dignity.
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