Our History

BCS, then the Association for Retarded Children (Arc) of Adams and Wells County was started in Vera Cruz, IN. Its mission was to provide educational opportunities for intellectually, developmentally and physically disabled school age children. A few years later the organization opened a sheltered workshop for adults with intellectually, developmentally, and physically disabilities.

BCS opened its first residential group home in Adams County. The Arc continued to grow in Vera Cruz until the Indiana Department of Health condemned a portion of the public utilities forcing BCS to relocate.

BCS raised money from the state, county, city, foundations, businesses, organizations and the local community to erect a new building at 425 Harrison Road in Bluffton. The Board of Directors also wanted to address the stigma of “retarded” in the organization’s name. It was changed to Bi-County Services, Inc..

BCS started providing services under the Medicaid Waiver Program. This program has grown to the point that more consumers are receiving services under the Medicaid waiver than in BCS’s residential group homes. BCS currently has 5 residential group homes (2 in Decatur, 1 in Berne, and 2 in Bluffton) and 11 waiver homes providing residential services. All but 3 of the waiver homes have 24-hour supervision. There are also numerous individuals throughout both counties that receive a variety of non-residential services.