Centerforce

Centerforce was initially started in 1968 by a group of parents who had children with disabilities that were leaving the public school system. 45 years ago no one thought someone with a disability could work so this group of parents started, in a church, doing crafts and teaching basic living skills. In 1971, the group incorporated as a non-profit organization and became Pacific Care Center. Eventually they shifted their focus to doing production and assembly work and started a sheltered workshop program. As the years went by programs and services were added to meet societal and economic needs of individuals with disabilities and now Centerforce is the largest provider of employment services to individuals with developmental disabilities in Pierce County.