Staff and clients work together at the EDC. (Photo by Russell Bailey.)
September 26, 2025
First tenant moves in to SIU’s new hub for clinical, social services and training
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale has created the Community Care and Education Center (CCEC) as a hub for community clinical services, social support resources and experiential training for health care, behavioral health and social services students, and the College of Health and Human Sciences facility is now open at its new location in University Hall, 1101 S. Wall St.
The first CCEC tenant is the Evaluation and Developmental Center (EDC), a unique, comprehensive rehabilitation facility providing vocational, psychological, transitional living, work skill development, job placement and driver education services to people with disabilities.
Bringing it all together
The new CCEC brings together four behavioral, mental health, rehabilitative, restorative and other service units that serve the public into one central, collaborative place. The Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders will be the next to make the move, relocating from its current headquarters in Wham Educational Building to the CCEC site during winter break. The professional research facility offers free high-quality screening and services to people ages 2-22 with suspected or diagnosed autism spectrum disorder as well as their families while also providing community services and serving as a research and student training arena.
Making the move thereafter will be the Clinical Center, a multidisciplinary outpatient facility that provides clinical training and community care in clinical psychology, speech-language pathology and counselor education, and Project 12-Ways, a federally funded behavioral parent training program providing professional child care, self-help and interpersonal skills training to family members involved with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services so they can successfully manage stress and have positive family interactions.
Media advisory
Numerous legislators from throughout the region have been invited to attend a private tour and presentation on Sept. 30, highlighting the center’s many educational and community enrichment initiatives. Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover the enlightening event, which will begin with a short meet and greet at 11 a.m. A special presentation at about 11:15 a.m. will feature brief remarks from SIU President Daniel Mahony and SIU Carbondale Chancellor Austin Lane. In addition, a couple of clients from the Evaluation and Developmental Center and the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders will share a little about how they have benefited from the center’s services.
Looking ahead
Officials say bringing all four units together within the CCEC not only makes the services more convenient and accessible to the community, but it brings faculty, staff and students together where they can better collaborate on current and expanding research. Learn more about the CCEC by visiting the website or contacting Denise Croft, director of the CCEC and the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, at denisecroft@siu.edu.
The SIU Foundation is raising $5 million for renovation of the facility, converting the space into therapy rooms, independent living areas, research labs and offices. Funding will also allow an expansion of the CCEC’s services to more people. Learn more about the renovation project and funding by contacting Steph Taylor, senior director of development for CHHS, at stephaniet@foundation.siu.edu.