Our Mission
Supporting People
Our Vision
Valley Community Services is committed to providing the highest quality services to the people and families we serve. Every person in the agency from the Executive Director to the newest member of the direct service personnel must strive to adhere to the founding principle which requires that every minute of every day should be dedicated to providing the people we serve with a day better than the day before.
Currently, Valley Community Services operates:
- 42 Community Living Arrangement locations
- 6 Intermediate Care Facilities
- 2 Adult Training Facilities
Our History
Check out how Valley Community Services evolved through the past 40+ years!
1976
Valley Community Services (VCS) was incorporated as a private, non-profit, agency in Southwestern Pennsylvania and established an early learning program for children from infancy through school-age.
1978
Allegheny County contracted with VCS to create one of the first early programs in the state of PA. This program was one of the first to integrate preschool children with disabilities with typically developing children. VCS partnered with the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Special Education to conduct research on the benefits of an integrated program.
1978
VCS developed Pennsylvania’s first community-based residential program (CLA’s) for children and adolescents with autism. This program received a positive response from the community and attracted the attention of many parents and professionals.
1986
After many successful years with our CLA program, different counties began requesting services from VCS. So, in 1986, VCS opened its offices in Allegheny County in Springdale, Pennsylvania.
1988
VCS opened its first Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania.
1989
Bakersville Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) opened in Somerset County. When the facility was constructed in the late 1980s, a portion of the funds that went to construction came from Rita McGinley. McGinley spent her life donating whatever she could to many schools and non-profits in the Pittsburgh area.
1990
VCS opened its first adult training facility in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The Pritts Center was located in Mount Pleasant and has since been named the McCarthy Center. Michael McCarthy, otherwise known as “Mickey,” served as a Residential Director at VCS for 23 years.
2003
Dr. Ahmad Y. Al-Mallah and Dr. Shadiya C. Al-Mallah donated their offices to Valley Community Services. Our Westmoreland County offices currently are housed in this building located in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania.
2005
VCS opened its second adult training facility to better accommodate different regions of Western Pennsylvania.The Adult Developmental Training Center (ADTC) was then opened in Bedford County.
2012
VCS held its first annual McCarthy Open. The McCarthy Open was created to honor the late Michael McCarthy.
2017
VCS opened the doors at the agency’s first accessible home. This marked our transitioning into an agency completely comprised of accessible homes.
2019
VCS opened their second office in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. This office building houses the Human Resources Department.