News Archive

Tennessee Community Organizations (TNCO) is a statewide trade association for service provider organizations that support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Tennessee.

TNCO member organizations provide a full array of services such as residential, day and supported employment, to approximately 12,000 Tennesseans with disabilities. TNCO’s main purpose is to collaborate the efforts of our member agencies to ensure disabled Tennesseans receive quality services.  We coordinate public relations activities such as conferences, educational training, networking and political advocacy opportunities.

Award #1: Community Leader of the Year

The nominee for this award will be selected for outstanding dedication and contribution to the improvement and expansion of community services for people with disabilities.

Awarded to:
Anna Cook, DNP, PMHNP-PC, CNS-BC
Owner of iMind Mental Health and Wellness

Nomination Narrative:
Dr. Anna Cook filled a huge gap for mental health services in Jackson and surrounding areas of West Tennessee by opening her own practice, earning her doctorate, and providing services that would often require travel to larger cities.

iMind Mental Health and Wellness provides a wide range of mental health services from assessments, diagnostic testing, counseling, treatment, and care with a person-centered approach.

Unfortunately, people who have a co-occurring diagnosis that includes intellectual disabilities are far too often overlooked or misunderstood.   Anna and her team never hesitate to provide the utmost care and attention.  They provide an extraordinary service to the community.

Award #2: Outstanding DSP West Region
(Each Regional winner will receive a $100 monetary award)

The nominee for this award must be an agency staff member who has provided exemplary support during the past 12 months to one or more people with a disability. The nominee should have exhibited compassion, initiative, ingenuity, or creativity and should have demonstrated professionalism.

Awarded to:
LaShun Woods
DSP – Jackson

Nomination Narrative:
LaShun Woods has worked with our agency for six years. The residents of her assigned home are employed during regular business hours, so LaShun gladly helps routinely in 4-5 other homes with a positive attitude by covering a shift, delivering meds or supplies, etc.

LaShun is the Residential Home Coordinator (RHC) at a tech-enabled home.  LaShun helped them embrace the technology that extends their independence and has learned it herself.  After the persons she supports return from work, she takes them to run errands, pick up supplies or whatever they need. The two staff she supervises respect LaShun and they work well together.

LaShun often provides Community Integration for two persons at another home because their third roommate can’t leave the house.  She actively engages them in the community.    She is well received by Persons Supported at any assignment.  She is a loyal and hardworking team player.

We are so proud of the recognition given to these two persons who give so much to those we support and MHDS.

Moving office is a lot like moving house – it’s no small feat! But we’ve completed our move and we’re getting settled in.

We also took this opportunity to name our office communities and we think you’ll love the changes! Take a look below at a gallery of images from our new offices.

Adult Day Activity Center
Madison Haywood Developmental Services
Mental Health & Developmental Services
Historical Timeline         

2010 – Mar 1 – Ground breaks to double the size and capacity of the Jackson Workshop

2011 – Mar 8 – Awarded the 2010 Pinnacle Award for Large Not-for-Profits by the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce.

2011 -Mar 30 – Construction at Garland is complete

2011 -May 30 – Administrative Offices move to Garland facility

2011 – Sept 29 – Open House for Garland

2015 – May – Nora Buckley hired as Chief Operations Officer

2017 -Mar 31 – Contract work is ended as supported employment is the only work service funded by TN Department of Intellectual and  Developmental Disabilities

2017 – Feb 21 – Oak Grove sold

2019 – Jan 1 – The PLACE mental health program launches

2019 – Mar 8 – The PLACE open house

2020 – Jan 1 – MHDS assumes operations of McNairy County Developmental Services

2020 – Apr 1 – Personal Assistance Program ends

2020– Oct 1 – Tagline “Mental Health & Developmental Services” adopted to reflect scope of services

2021 – Oct 12 – CQL/The Council on Quality and Leadership accreditation approved

2021– Nov 18 – Shift/Technology First accreditation approved

2022– Jan 7 – Brownsville facility sold

2022– Apr 1 – Contract to provide rest area services ends

Enjoy a slideshow of images taken during the 2010’s.

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Adult Day Activity Center
Madison Haywood Developmental Services
Historical Timeline       

2000 – Jun 1 – East Chester Residents move to 154 Reynolds

2000 – Aug 1 – MHDS sells Administrative Offices on Cheyenne to Carl Perkins Center

2000 – Aug 1 –  Administrative Office relocate to downtown BancorpSouth building

2000 – Dec 1 –  Administrative Offices move to Garland Workshop

2003 – Jul 1 – Assume Family Support Program from Easter Seals in Chester, Decatur, Henderson & McNairy counties

2003 – Sep – MHDS sells Fairway Group Home

2003 – Sep 1 – MHDS assumes management of Hardeman County Developmental Services

2003– Sep 8  – Administrative Office relocates to 139 Stonebridge Boulevard

2003 – Oct – Garland 2^nd addition complete

2003 – Nov 30 – NISH Contract to maintain downtown Federal Building ends

2004 – Apr 1 – MHDS takes over Hardeman County Developmental Services

2005 – Jul 31 – Newbern operations assumed by C S Patterson Center

2006 – Oct 3 – Bill Brewer hired as Executive Director after a 32 year career with the organization

Enjoy a slideshow of images taken during the 2000’s.

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Adult Day Activity Center
Madison Haywood Developmental Services
Historical Timeline       

1990 – Nov 19 – Day program facility opens at 1551 Welch Street in Brownsville

1991 – Jul 1 – Evaluation program begins through Department of Vocational Rehabilitation

1992 – Jan 1 –  Interpreting Center for the Deaf created

1992 – Jan 1 –  Construction begins on Fairway Group Home

1992 – Apr 1 – Rest area operations begin

1992 – Jul 1 – Level II Male Home opens at 114 Fairway Boulevard

1993– Jul 1  – Family Support program is begun in four West TN counties

1994 – Jan 1 – Oak Grove Active Elderly Group Home opens

1996 – May 15 – Level IV Duplex purchased at 8 Georgian Cove

1997 – Jun 23 – Female residential home established at 192 Ridgemont by Ethel, Diane & Monda

1997 – Jan 6 – Administrative Offices established at 213 Cheyenne Drive

1998 – Jan 7 – Begin operation of Newbern Group Home

1999 – Dec 1 – Closure of Interpreting Center for the Deaf

Enjoy a slideshow of images taken during the 90’s.

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