The Schwartz Center for Children Executive Director Barry De St. Croix has announced plans to retire within the year after serving 17 years in the top leadership position for the multi-service agency devoted to children with special needs.

Mr. De St. Croix began his career at the agency in 1973, and rose through the ranks in a variety of clinical positions before stepping into the director’s position in 1991.

“Reflecting upon the last 35 years, there have been many accomplishments and tremendous growth of the Schwartz Center, including our new facility in Dartmouth,” Mr. De St. Croix said.  “However, I am most proud over those years to have witnessed the growth in every child and assistance we could provide to thousands of families.  As my predecessor and mentor, Agnes Raposa, often said, ‘It’s for the kids.’”

The announcement, made at Tuesday’s Board of Directors meeting, came as the center was finalizing the last items on a punch list for the $4,500,000 new facility that is nestled on a wooded knoll on Posa Place, named after Mrs. Raposa, just off Old Westport Road in North Dartmouth.

Board President Dr. Jonathan H. Schwartz, commenting on the announcement, noted: “Barry is only the second executive director in the 60-year history of this agency, and he deserves a great deal of the credit for the creation of this fabulous new campus in Dartmouth. He ushered us through the difficult transition from being a much smaller organization to the status of a multi-program agency poised for growth in a much more professional facility.”

Dr. Schwartz is the son of the late Dr. Isaac H. Schwartz, one the founders of the center for whom it was named.

Mr. De St. Croix was hired at the Schwartz Center for Children as a group therapist following his 1973 graduation from Southeastern Massachusetts University (now the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth) with a degree in fine arts.   He received a  master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from Assumption College and also became a certified rehabilitation counselor.  This enabled Mr. De St.Croix  to do psychological counseling for families and children as well as vocational counseling for persons with disabilities.  A short time later, Mr. De St. Croix was named Director of Rehabilitation Services at Schwartz, a position he held for more than 10 years until he was named Executive Director.

Dr. Schwartz also expressed the board’s gratitude to Mr. De St. Croix’s for his offer to stay at the helm of the Center while the board opens a search for a new director. “Barry has guided the Center to this strategic turning point,” said Dr. Schwartz. “All of us who love the children and work to enrich the quality of their lives and the lives of their families will treasure Barry’s legacy as we move into a new era for this very special agency.”

The Schwartz Center for Children is a non-profit agency established in 1947 by parents seeking services for their children and is the only free-standing pediatric rehabilitation clinic in New England.  Since its founding, the Center has continued to grow to meet the needs of children throughout the South Coast area.  Its four major programs include: Early Intervention, the  Private Day School, the A.E. Raposa Outpatient Rehabilitation Program, and the Regional Consultation Program. 

The Schwartz Center’s mission is to help children reach their greatest potential.  It is able to do this through strong community support from private contributions, fundraising events, and the United Way of Greater New Bedford.

To contact the agency, contact Robin Cabral 508-996-3391

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Schwartz Center For Children

The Schwartz Center for Children has been serving our community for close to 60 years with high quality therapeutic interventions, medical care, and education for children with disabilities and special health care needs.

Our mission, to help each child achieve his or her greatest potential, is at the hear of everything we do.

With your generous help, we're now serving over 900 families throughout the Southcoast region - and new requests for our services are increasing dramatically.

With 60 years of serving children with special medical and developmental needs, the Schwartz Center brings hope, inspiration, and comfort to Southeastern Massachusetts children and families.

Help us continue to provide care for our children.

They need your help.

http://www.schwartzcenter.org

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