The Children's Center for Communication and Development

The Children's Center for Communication and Development The Children's Center at Southern Miss provides comprehensive early intervention services to infants, toddlers and preschoolers with complex disabilities.

The Children's Center has been bringing brighter futures to children with complex disabilities since 1974. From humble beginnings to the transdisciplinary program that it is today, one thing has remained constant – the level of commitment on the part of the staff to make a difference in a child’s life. The Children’s Center was built on the notion that every child should have access to the joys (and trials) of life, daily opportunities (and responsibilities), and the chance to build a bright, beautiful future. The specialists at The Center spend their days working to make this vision a reality. Children enrolled at The Children’s Center present a wide variety of special needs and diagnoses, including (but not limited to) speech, hearing and language disorders, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, rare genetic disorders, or other conditions related to premature birth. What sets The Children’s Center apart from its counterparts is the way in which therapies are provided. Research has shown that early intervention is most successful when a comprehensive approach is taken toward a child’s development. What this means for the children enrolled in The Center is that the innovative therapies provided will be custom-fit to each child’s communication and developmental needs and delivered with a cohesive team approach. This team includes speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, special educators, behavioral therapists, and auditory-oral therapists. In addition to providing cost-free exemplary services to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with complex disabilities, The Children’s Center is also a preeminent research and training facility. By providing pre-professional training to students at USM and other universities and colleges in the areas of speech-language pathology, audiology, special education, physical therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, nursing, recreational therapy, and music therapy, The Children’s Center is helping to mold the next generation of committed specialists in Southern Mississippi and beyond.

When you have volunteers helping make race signs and someone leaves you a friend. 🤭🤗 Thanks for the help, and the new pi...
04/02/2026

When you have volunteers helping make race signs and someone leaves you a friend. 🤭🤗 Thanks for the help, and the new pipe cleaner mascot, ladies! 🤸‍♀️👏

We know. It seems 2️⃣ sweet 2️⃣ be true. But it’s actually 2️⃣ legit 2️⃣ quit.Yes, we went there.🤭Okay, WE may be fools,...
04/01/2026

We know. It seems 2️⃣ sweet 2️⃣ be true. But it’s actually 2️⃣ legit 2️⃣ quit.

Yes, we went there.🤭
Okay, WE may be fools, but we have a seriously amazing announcement…

📢Keesler Federal Credit Union has offered to match all donations to our charity runners (the Candy Crew), starting now, up to $5,000‼️🤩

Go find a charity runner for The Children’s Center, help them get closer to their fundraising goal, and know that your donation will be matched, dollar for dollar! (Until we reach $10,956) BIG thank you to Keesler Federal Credit Union for their generosity and to charity runner, Sawyer Walters, for helping make this happen!🫶💪

👀 Yes, we put “no cap” on a conversation heart. 😎

https://runsignup.com/Race/78013/Donate?charityId=14449

Hattiesburg Half Marathon

04/01/2026

Nothing better than a beautiful Sunday afternoon filled with fun and inclusive play, thanks to our friends at Junior Auxiliary of Hattiesburg! We’re so thankful for the work they put into making every Play All Ways event so special. 💙🖤💛

03/28/2026

It’s a good thing Jillian has the words to describe what The Children’s Center means to her. Because we’re at a loss when it comes to describing what she means to us, and to the families she serves.

Jillian’s passion for what she does and commitment to her families and her team are unparalleled. Anyone who knows her knows she has no time for emojis and flowery texts 😉 because she’s too busy learning something new, finding ways to empower her little ones, and adapting a toy or book or anything else her kiddos need to access.

Or she’s helping her team. And now, she’s training to run for us too! Listen to Jillian tell her story and why she chose to be a charity runner for The Children’s Center.

And help her crush that fundraising goal at bit.ly/go_jillian 💪🍭👟💜🍬🤩 Hattiesburg Half Marathon

📢 We're hiring! Additional SLP and audiologist openings have been added at our HBG and GPK locations. Here's a recap of ...
03/27/2026

📢 We're hiring! Additional SLP and audiologist openings have been added at our HBG and GPK locations. Here's a recap of open positions:

📍HBG - 1 opening: PreK SLP

📍 GPK - 1 opening: Early Intervention (EI) SLP - working with infants & toddlers

📍 Either location - 1 opening: Pediatric Audiologist

If you're an SLP or audiologist who believes in the power of early intervention, family coaching, and collaboration with other disciplines, we'd love to hear from you! See links below for more info. 👇

SLP (HBG) posting: https://usm.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/5076?c=usm&sq=speech-language%20pathologist

SLP (GPK) posting: https://usm.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/5077?c=usm&sq=speech-language%20pathologist

Pediatric Audiologist posting: https://usm.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/5185?c=usm

Getting on their level, or excuse to lie down?You be the judge. 🧐😂The week after spring break hits hard, y’all. 🫠
03/26/2026

Getting on their level, or excuse to lie down?
You be the judge. 🧐😂

The week after spring break hits hard, y’all. 🫠

⏰🌟🍭Last chance to order race shirts! Place your orders by tomorrow (Thursday) at noon! bit.ly/tcceventshirts Hattiesbu...
03/25/2026

⏰🌟🍭Last chance to order race shirts! Place your orders by tomorrow (Thursday) at noon! bit.ly/tcceventshirts Hattiesburg Half Marathon

Who is this cutie, and what retro photo filter are we using? 📸This is David, and we’re not using one. David Robin Forten...
03/19/2026

Who is this cutie, and what retro photo filter are we using? 📸

This is David, and we’re not using one. David Robin Fortenberry is one of our Dapper Five ambassadors and this is him as a young boy.

When this photo was taken, David struggled to communicate with the world around him. His speech was delayed, and he had a speech impediment. But his story took a turn 📖 because he received speech therapy as a young child. The trajectory of his future was forever changed because he got the help he needed when it mattered most.

When we asked David to be one of our Dapper Five, he protested the “Dapper” designation, refusing to acknowledge that quality in himself (we think this photo proves us right – dapper, even as a child 🎩), but he had zero hesitation in accepting the ambassador position.

Knowing the work that we do, and the impact it has on young children, he jumped at the chance to help further our mission.

We’re so very grateful to have David Fortenberry as a friend of The Children’s Center, and now as a **decidedly dapper**👔 Dapper Five ambassador. And we’d be so grateful if you’d help get him to his fundraising goal of $5,000.

👉Click the link, 👉choose “Give Now,” ✍️and write his name in the “In Honor of” field. Thank you for your support of our work, through our Five!
https://eaglefever.usm.edu/project/47731

All of us in South Mississippi on our way to drip the faucets overnight. 😑🤣 If this weather doesn’t make up its mind, y’...
03/17/2026

All of us in South Mississippi on our way to drip the faucets overnight. 😑🤣 If this weather doesn’t make up its mind, y’all. 🙄 🌸❄️

We had the BEST time at Play (and Plant) with JA! Thank you, Junior Auxiliary of Gulfport, Heavenly Grace Farm, Pine Hil...
03/16/2026

We had the BEST time at Play (and Plant) with JA! Thank you, Junior Auxiliary of Gulfport, Heavenly Grace Farm, Pine Hills Nursery, and everyone who came and joined us (and those who took photos). What a special day! 🌼🐐💙

Golfing photos? Has The Children’s Center’s social media been hacked? ⛳️Not at all. This isn’t a golf post - it’s a post...
03/13/2026

Golfing photos? Has The Children’s Center’s social media been hacked? ⛳️

Not at all. This isn’t a golf post - it’s a post about the man behind the golf club and his generous spirit.

Meet Brandon Tullos: Hattiesburg native, Forrest County Agricultural High School alum, Golden Eagle ( ), CRNA, Regional Manager for Lifelinc Anesthesia, business owner, craftsman, husband to Children’s Center friend Jessie Tullos, and dad to four beautiful children. Now he’s adding another title - Dapper Five Ambassador for Run for the Roses.

💌 When asked why he accepted the nomination, Brandon (who has already supported the Center through his business, Gopher Golf Club Apparel Company) shared:

🗣️“Children and families deserve access to high-quality healthcare and services regardless of their socio-economic circumstances. The Children’s Center works to eliminate barriers to services and level the playing field, including providing services at no cost. I welcome any opportunity to help them in this mission.”

🫶 He also believes strongly in the importance of giving back:
🗣️“I want my kids to grow up seeing that they have the power to make an impact on their community. I want them to know that giving back isn’t optional - it’s part of being a good person.”

We’re honored to have Brandon as one of our Dapper Five Run for the Roses ambassadors. 💐

Help him reach his $5,000 fundraising goal! Click the link below, choose “Give Now,” and write Brandon Tullos in the “In Honor of” field. Every gift makes a difference. 💙

https://eaglefever.usm.edu/project/47731

👟💙Hattiesburg Half Marathon is just 4 weeks away! And you know what that means… Time to get your Runhburg for The Childr...
03/13/2026

👟💙Hattiesburg Half Marathon is just 4 weeks away! And you know what that means… Time to get your Runhburg for The Children’s Center 2026 shirts! Head over to bit.ly/tcceventshirts to place your order today! 🍭🙌

Address

Hattiesburg, MS

Telephone

(601)2665222

Website

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