www.alliedgroup.org

A brief History of Allied...

Our agency began in 1962 with the formulation of a Steering Committee consisting of parents looking for programs and services for their young sons and daughters.  Preschool and summer camp programs were started for eight children, and thus began the Enfield Association for Retarded Children.

In 1973 a Work Activity Center opened for six people to attend three days a week.  That same year, funding was being established for these programs through programs through DMR and the United Way.  We sent through a second name change in 1974 to Enfield Association for Retarded and Handicapped Citizens.  Hike-Bike became a major fundraiser for the agency, which also saw the addition of the "Kids on the Block" Puppets to promote  the event to children in Enfield and the surrounding area schools.

Our first location, in the former Enfield Congregational Church

A Career Placement Center opened in 1976 for those people who wanted to look for work outside the workshop.  Thus, the first ever work crew was started washing windows at Bradley Field.  Due to the need for services in surrounding towns, our name was changed to the Greater Enfield Association for Retarded Citizens.  At the same time, our Work Activity Center continued to expand, with enrollment in 1979 reaching 71 people attending five days a week.

Our location during the early 1980's

Interest began to surface for residential services for developmentally disabled adults who wanted to live in the community but needed supports.  In 1984 our first group home was opened for six men, and over the next ten years we added four more group homes and several supported living arrangements, I.e., apartments and shared housing.

"In 1984 our first group home was opened for six men, and over the next ten years we added four more group homes and several supported living arrangements…"

One of our Community Living Arrangements.

All of the programs and services were growing with such magnitude that preliminary planning began in 1985 for construction of a new building at Three Pearson Way to house all of our operations.  The move took place in July of 1987 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house.

Three
Pearson Way

Enfield
Connecticut

Over the last twelve years we have seen the retirement of our first Executive Director, Evelyn Baron, and the hiring of our current President/CEO, Dean Wern.   Those years have also seen the establishment of various agency run businesses: a flower shop, a redemption center, a landscaping operation for both residential and commercial properties, a mailing operation, continued contract work and a transportation livery service with a fleet of 29 vehicles.  Our janitorial crews have worked hard and been awarded state and federal contracts.  We have expanded our programs to include satellite operations in Bloomfield and Enfield.

...we believe that our programs and services are the best in the area and we constantly strive to improve and expand...

  The spin off of our leisure and recreation, summer day camp and advocacy programs in 1993 resulted in the Arc of Greater Enfield being born.  Our name was changed again in 1993 to Greater Enfield Allied Rehabilitation Centers.  We have increased our services through cooperative efforts with the Bureau of Rehabilitation services, Veterans' Administration, Workers' Compensation (state and federal), Second Injury Fund, Board of Education and services for the Blind, and the various school systems in the surrounding towns.

     In 1999,  Allied Rehab Centers became a subsidiary of our new parent corporation, Allied Community Services.  With our other subsidiary Allied Community Resources, we believe that our programs and services are the best in the area and we constantly strive to improve and expand.  Throughout the years and all of its accomplishments, our agency continues to keep focused on what was the original intent of those founding parents:  programs and services for persons with developmental disabilities.