Creative Community Services is a private, nonprofit organization that was started in 1982 by Executive Director Sally Buchanan. Sally has made it her mission in life to help children and adults with special needs and led CCS to become one of the best agencies serving children and adults in Georgia and the United States. Her frustration, compassion and dream to make a difference over 20 years ago are what started it all.

Sally began volunteering with developmentally disabled (DD) adults as a teenager at Tucker High School. Later she turned this passion for volunteering into a career with a public agency that focused on DD adults. But this passion turned into frustration when she realized that limitations at the agency prevented Sally from viewing the consumer as a whole person and left services somewhat fragmented. With support from friends in the community, Sally opened Creative Community Services in 1982 with five DD adults.

In 1988, a House Representative approached Sally about her success with DD adults and proposed a new client – children who were severely abused and neglected.  Up to this point, kids throughout the state of Georgia with severe mental health problems were sent to other states because no community-based program existed to meet their specialized needs. Sally took on the challenge and began a therapeutic foster care (TFC) program that same year with one child.  CCS currently serves between 45 and 50 children with ever expanding capacity. 

Over the past several years, support for community-based services has grown and CCS has seen this opportunity allow for increased success in individual consumers’ lives. Instead of catching kids at the end of the spectrum who have failed their way through the system, CCS is preventing kids from ever going into institutionalized placements. As a result of DD institutions shutting down, the state has begun to open Medicaid waivers that have brought dollars to serve children and adults who, with supports, may live successfully in the community.

With passion, dedication and hard work Sally and the CCS team continue to give both kids and adults hope by encouraging independent living that creates involved, engaged citizens and community members.

Executive Director Sally Buchanan enjoying her time with fellow CCS staff and clients.
"It has been so exciting to see our team grow from one staff, one child, and one adult, to over 140 mission driven employees who are serving over 200 children, families, and adults." -Sally Buchanan, CCS Executive Director