A Little History

1972     Mary Pirosko works with Louisiana ARC and the Office of Mental Retardation to begin a Day Developmental Training Center in Hammond.

1973    TARC (Tangipahoa ARC) begins providing services for individuals of all ages with mental retardation. Barry Meyer is named as the first supervisor.

1979     TARC hires its first Executive Director, Sylvia Bush.

1984     TARC opens Our House, the first community home in Tangipahoa Parish.

1985    TARC begins providing supervised apartments, opens a second community home, and begins finding individual jobs for people with mental retardation in the community.

1989   TARC’s Board of Directors determines that two separate organizations are needed to address the growing needs of people with disabilities.  It is decided to reorganize as TARC and OPTIONS.  Both agencies will be private non-profit service providers with separate volunteer boards of directors.

1990   TARC and OPTIONS begin operating as two separate agencies.  TARC provides infant services and advocacy; OPTIONS provides vocational and residential services.  Our House, Fortenberry House, Supervised Apartments and Potpourri Enterprise (vocational services) programs and buildings are all transferred to OPTIONS. 

1991    OPTIONS begins providing Respite Care and Personal Care Attendant services.

1998    The 1st OPTIONS TELETHON is held on May 23rd, at Hammond Square Mall and it is shown on Channel 17.  Celebrities and community leaders join together to let the community know about the great work OPTIONS does and to raise money to help support OPTIONS mission.

2000     An Awareness Program is developed at OPTIONS.  The theme is “I’m Proud of My OPTIONS.”

2001    A Capital Campaign is planned to raise money to ensure the long-term future of services.  A Strategic Plan is developed, along with a Marketing Plan, to accomplish the long-term goals of OPTIONS.

2006    Hurricane Katrina provides the impetus to plan for a safe and secure shelter for individuals with disabilities that can also be used for vocational training on a daily basis.  A Major Gifts Campaign is begun to build OPTIONS SAFE HAVEN.  OPTIONS TELETHON 2006 raises $100,000 for this project.  An acre of land adjacent to the current OPTIONS Administrative/Vocational Center is donated by Ed and Peggy Hoover.  $350,000 in planning funds are approved by the Louisiana State Legislature.

Because of the lack of suitable housing, OPTIONS submits an application for a HUD grant to build apartments for eight individuals with disabilities.  An acre of land for OPTIONS Apartments I is donated by Jerry and Sheila Kinchen in memory of Jerry's parents, Leonard and Sallie Kinchen.

2007   Additional funds for Safe Haven are approved by the state legislature.  The land is cleared and architectural plans are drawn up.

 

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                                                                           19362 West Shelton Road, Hammond, LA 70401
                                                                             Phone: (985) 345-6269  Fax: (985) 345-0297