The Children's Center for Communication and Development

The Children's Center for Communication and Development The Children's Center at Southern Miss provides comprehensive early intervention services to infants, toddlers and preschoolers with complex disabilities.

The Children's Center has been bringing brighter futures to children with complex disabilities since 1974. From humble beginnings to the transdisciplinary program that it is today, one thing has remained constant – the level of commitment on the part of the staff to make a difference in a child’s life. The Children’s Center was built on the notion that every child should have access to the joys (and trials) of life, daily opportunities (and responsibilities), and the chance to build a bright, beautiful future. The specialists at The Center spend their days working to make this vision a reality. Children enrolled at The Children’s Center present a wide variety of special needs and diagnoses, including (but not limited to) speech, hearing and language disorders, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, rare genetic disorders, or other conditions related to premature birth. What sets The Children’s Center apart from its counterparts is the way in which therapies are provided. Research has shown that early intervention is most successful when a comprehensive approach is taken toward a child’s development. What this means for the children enrolled in The Center is that the innovative therapies provided will be custom-fit to each child’s communication and developmental needs and delivered with a cohesive team approach. This team includes speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, special educators, behavioral therapists, and auditory-oral therapists. In addition to providing cost-free exemplary services to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with complex disabilities, The Children’s Center is also a preeminent research and training facility. By providing pre-professional training to students at USM and other universities and colleges in the areas of speech-language pathology, audiology, special education, physical therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, nursing, recreational therapy, and music therapy, The Children’s Center is helping to mold the next generation of committed specialists in Southern Mississippi and beyond.

12/20/2025

You know those school principals who somehow manage to lead their school in a way that makes teachers and students alike feel supported, challenged, motivated, and VALUED?

🙌The ones who lift up everyone around them?

🚪The ones who gain respect without fear – who you look forward to seeing at your door?

💁‍♀️The ones who make it all look easy? (When we all know it’s anything but.)

That’s Dr. Lachel Story. That’s what she has been for us and for the College of Nursing and Health Professions, and for so many more, truly, in her role as Dean.

She has celebrated with us, stood behind us, stood in front of us, and done anything she can to help us and our little ones soar. She has led us with grace, humility, passion, humor, and a whole lot of sparkle ✨ (and tiny high-fives and hugs).

🦅We soar higher because of her.

Now, help us wish her well as she soars on to her next chapter. We’re excited about what the future holds for us both and we’re so glad that we make it a habit not to really let people go. And that she has promised not to change her phone number.😁

ALL our best, Dr. Lachel Story. You deserve it. 🥹

And the best morning at our coast location! Thank you Junior Auxiliary of Gulfport and Santa for such a joyful day!
12/19/2025

And the best morning at our coast location! Thank you Junior Auxiliary of Gulfport and Santa for such a joyful day!

Such a fun day with our friends at Southern Miss Alumni Association! And amazing pics from the talented Gracie Lewis!
12/19/2025

Such a fun day with our friends at Southern Miss Alumni Association! And amazing pics from the talented Gracie Lewis!

12/19/2025

A Children’s Center favorite duo, Cade and Crew, and the cutest reindeer craft! 🦌❣️

12/19/2025

Donuts with Santa was a blast as always! Thank you, for such a joy-filled morning for us and our families! 🎅✨

Who needs Elf on a Shelf when you’ve got Raye out of the Way? (Comes with accessories, including work badge, laptop, and...
12/18/2025

Who needs Elf on a Shelf when you’ve got Raye out of the Way? (Comes with accessories, including work badge, laptop, and step stool because you know she’s gonna need a boost to get up there!) 🤣🤭

*Officemates sold separately.

Sign up now before the price increase! Register as a Charity Runner for The Children's Center and join our team of racer...
12/17/2025

Sign up now before the price increase! Register as a Charity Runner for The Children's Center and join our team of racers this April!

🎯There is a price increase right around the corner. Now is the time to sign up for the Hattiesburg Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K and secure the lowest available price. 🎯

👉Register: https://runsignup.com/Race/MS/Hattiesburg/HattiesburgHalf

"When Chris was two he started going to The Children’s Center because he stuttered so badly that he would hardly talk." ...
12/16/2025

"When Chris was two he started going to The Children’s Center because he stuttered so badly that he would hardly talk." ~Elizabeth Bedenbaugh

💌When we founded the Schaub Society a year ago, we had just a handful of recurring donors. Elizabeth Bedenbaugh was one of them.

🫶 Mrs. Bedenbaugh had been giving monthly for years. She had been quietly, humbly supporting The Children's Center every month long before we created a society to recognize it. She gave because of what the Center did for her son - for the first chapter📘 we helped write and the foundation🧱 we helped lay.

"The miracles that (Dr. Cloud and the staff) worked with my sweet boy were so amazing," she remembers, "He has no recollection of ever stuttering. He just remembers going somewhere that was a lot of fun. He is now 33, a USM graduate in Communication of all things – and is teaching P.E. at the Steam academy for the Hattiesburg Public Schools. He is an assistant coach for the varsity baseball team there. Needless to say, The Children's Center will always have my heart for all that they did for my son and for my whole family."

💛 And Mrs. Bedenbaugh has been helping us lay the foundation for more families just like hers for years. That's the power of recurring giving.

1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣We're just 3 members shy of 100. Join Mrs. Bedenbaugh, commit to giving at least $5 per month, and help us continue laying foundations and writing first chapters.

Join here: usmfoundation.com/schaubsociety

Come hear our very own Sarah Rouse Myers in this panel discussion with Area Development Partnership!
12/16/2025

Come hear our very own Sarah Rouse Myers in this panel discussion with Area Development Partnership!

📅✨ Save the Date: January Accelerate ✨📅

Join us for our January Accelerate on Friday, January 16, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Southern Oaks Venue & Catering.

This month’s program will feature a Non-Profit Panel Discussion moderated by Amy Lyon, United Way of Southeast Mississippi, with insights from:

Didi Ellis, Kids Hub Child Advocacy Center

Ann McCullen, Edwards St. Fellowship

Sarah Myers, The Children's Center for Communication and Development

Mark your calendar for an engaging conversation on impact, leadership, and collaboration across our nonprofit community. More details coming soon!

Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate! Wishing you a season filled with love, light, and peace. 💙
12/15/2025

Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate! Wishing you a season filled with love, light, and peace. 💙

Last weekend, we got to spend the day at and we had a blast! We were there to sell holiday items, but we may have purc...
12/12/2025

Last weekend, we got to spend the day at and we had a blast! We were there to sell holiday items, but we may have purchased more than we sold! 🤣🤭 Friends, if you’re looking for sweet, unique, local gifts, shop small and head to Accents this weekend. You won’t be sorry!

📣 And we still have sets of beautiful gift tags made from Children’s Center graduate, Selah Taylor’s original artwork available for purchase! Head to bit.ly/tccholidayshop2025 to purchase. (Shirts are no longer available for order.) 🎨❤️

Address

Hattiesburg, MS

Telephone

(601)2665222

Website

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