In the mid 1970’s, Governor Robert D. Ray directed that there should be core planning groups set up in the various regions of the state to determine the needs of Iowa’s developmentally disabled population.  Each region was to develop a plan for their unique concerns and identified needs. 

This county formed the Cass County Core Planning Group in the fall of 1976 and identified their primary need as bringing their people back to the community from institutions and providing them with meaningful day programs.

CASS Incorporated was born of this vision to provide day programming.  Incorporated on January 1st, 1977 as the Center for the Advancement of Self-Sufficiency, Incorporated, it became known as its acronym, CASS Incorporated, reflecting the association with Cass County. The new 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization opened its doors to sixteen clients and five staff in September of the same year, at 1201 East 7th Street.  Jack Adams was its first Executive Director.

Within several years, the facility was outgrown and relocation became necessary.  In 1980, a building at 601 Walnut Street was purchased and remodeled.  Under the leadership of new Executive Director, Bill Scheibeler, operations expanded and sheltered workshop services were added resulting in a bustling woodshop, that made pallets, surveyor stakes, building shims, etc.  By 1986, the woodshop had grown so much, it had to relocate to a rented location until a new building was constructed to house it.  The new building was constructed at 203 Maple Street in 1987.  In 1989, a second building at 205 Maple, was built to store finished products from the woodshop. 

Many new people came to Atlantic for services in the mid 1980’s, mostly from state institutions.  Simultaneously, because of the relocation to Atlantic of a psychiatrist renowned in the treatment of schizophrenia, we began serving individuals with mental illness.

Our community has developed a network of services to support persons with chronic and persistent mental illness that allows them to remain in the community when they have periods of regression.  This greatly reduces the need for them to return to state institutions or hospitals to stabilize, making it less intrusive for them and more cost effective for funders, and ultimately tax payers.  This network includes CASS Incorporated, several residential facilities, the mental health center, and the community hospital.

Since its inception, CASS Incorporated has continuously improved its services and strived to provide a variety of opportunities to the people for whom it exists.  Under the leadership of its third Executive Director, Glenda Farrier, the organization has evolved into being “customer driven” and “values based”.  Business leadership principles were applied into the daily operations of a traditional non-profit charitable organization.  A diverse leadership team now leads the organization.

In the 1990’s we began providing residential support services, closed our can redemption center, and replaced it with new packaging and assembly contracts under the business name of Resource Industries.  Community employment opportunities continued to grow and we were truly offering a diverse array of opportunities.

In 1998, we started a day activity program called Beyond Work, that has not only become very successful, but has also filled a service gap we were experiencing for many of our older or more severely challenged individuals.  That same year, we received a $400,000 community development block grant from the Iowa Department of Economic Development to purchase a building in Atlantic’s industrial park.  By selling our existing buildings and acquiring a USDA Rural Development loan, we were able to renovate and add on to the building, which greatly expanded the industrial capabilities of Resource Industries.  By September 1999, we were totally under one roof, with a new sense of purpose and unlimited possibilities.

In 2003 we received two Community Development Block Grants from the Iowa Department of Economic Development for $740,000 for the purpose of creating a supported living housing opportunity and an expanded area for daytime services.  Again, with additional funding from a USDA Rural Development loan, we were able to fund another large project to benefit the people we serve.  The Olive Street Apartments opened in December of 2005 and feature 12 single unit, fully accessible apartments and one transition apartment.  Additionally, at the same location, but in a different building, we house the offices of residential staff, host a day activity service and offer an after hours Social Center two days a week.

Currently, CASS Incorporated serves about 150 people with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness in community and facility based programs.  We serve individuals from 36 Iowa counties and six school districts.  We have 75 staff members and are governed by a nine member volunteer Board of Directors.