Delmarva Community Services, Inc., (formerly Dorchester Developmental Unity, Inc.) began operation in May, 1974 in Dorchester County servig adults who were mentally retarded. The original program began in the basement of a Baptist Church in Cambridge. The goal of the Agency was to assist the clients in maintaining an independent lifestyle within the community. The program began with Day Habitation Services. There were fifteen clients, three full-time staff, and one half-time staff.

In July 1977, a vocational program to create jobs for people with disabilities was established through a grant from the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council. The program moved from the Baptist Church to Appleby School.

By 1980, there were twenty-five clients, in Day and Residential Services. Two homes served six clients in the Residential Program. There were twelve staff.

The Residential Program was begun to allow clients to live in a community supported by trained staff that not only supervised, but also acted as an essential part of these newly created families.

Respite Care began offering services to approximately fifty families. Respite Care gives families with clients who are developmentally disabled opportunity to have support services either in their own homes or in the homes of care providers. Delmarva Community Services, Inc. offers Respite Care in the nine counties on the Eastern Shore.

By 1984, Delmarva Community Services, Inc. expanded its services and began to offer Medical Assistance Transportation. M.A. Transportation takes individuals with Medicaid to doctor's appointments around the county and as far away as Baltimore.

Approximately forty-four clients were being served with eighteen of them living in our Residential Program. Family Support Services was extended to one hundred fifty families while approximately five thousand consumers were served. The Agency employed fifty individuals. The Agency continued expansion and by 1989, there were specialized contracts and para-transit services.

Delmarva Community Services, Inc. is a multi-service agency dedicated to helping people who wish to maintain and independent lifestyle within the community. Such a right is often hindered by developmental or physical disabilities, advanced age, or sometimes just a lack of needed support from families or friends.

October, 1989 brought continued expansion. Delmarva Community Services, Inc. was already serving seniors by transporting them for various services and by providing Respite Care and other services to them. In view of this, Delmarva Community Services, Inc. acquired the contract from the Regional MAC Agency to operate the local senior centers in Dorchester County. Delmarva Community Services, Inc. began serving congregate meals to seniors age 60 and over. Delmarva Community Services, Inc. also delivered meals to the individuals who were homebound, frail and elderly.

Medical Assistance Transportation expanded providing several thousand units of services. Thousands of units of service were also provided to the senior citizens as well.

During fiscal year 1993, the Agency added services to individuals with Alzheimer's and other related disorders and to individuals who were funcionally disabled. Day and Vocational clients totaled sixty-five with thirty-two clients living in our Residential Program. Delmarva Community Services, Inc. had eight homes and three apartments. The Agency offers Family Support to five hundred families.

By 1994, Delmarva Community Services, Inc. was taking on more responsibility because of the needs of the citizens of the county. Because Delmarva Community Services' clients were aging and needed more of a medical model with specialized services, Delmarva Community Services, Inc. opened a Medical Day Care program in Cambridge. Delmarva Community Services, Inc. also opened a home to provide Senior Assisted Housing. Because the North Dorchester was being under served, Adult Medical Day Care opened in Hurlock, MD.

In view of the fact that the name Dorchester Developmental Unity, Inc. no longer described the scope of the agency's services, the Board of Directors applied for and received permission in February 1996 to change the name to Delmarva Community Services, Inc.

In July 1998 Delmarva Community Services, Inc. staff moved into its new multi-purpose service center in Cambridge and opened its new transit site in July 1999.

Day, Residential and Transportation services continue to expand. Delmarva Community Services, Inc. looks forward to the new millennium as it continues on the cutting edge of offering new service to individuals of Dorchester County and surrounding areas.