Star Center Named One of the 50 Best Nonprofits To Work For
JACKSON, Tennessee, (May 16, 2017)—The Star Center was recently named one of the 2017 Best
Nonprofits To Work For. The Nonprofit Times has partnered with Best Companies Group to identify 50
nonprofit organizations that have excelled in creating a quality workplace for employees.
The Star Center has been providing services to individuals with disabilities since 1988, and they currently
serve 21 counties in West Tennessee. The mission of the Star Center is to help any person with any
disability to realize their potential. “Our whole team is deeply committed to our mission. I’ve never
worked in a place where everyone has the mission statement memorized,” said Dave Bratcher,
President of the Star Center. “I think the way that people are all aligned behind a common goal is a key
factor in the health of our workplace.”
The Star Center provides six unique areas of service: Employment Services, Home Care, Art/Music
Therapy, Literacy Lab, Vision Services, and Assistive Technology. Some of the most common disabilities
served are autism, ADD, Dyslexia, intellectual disabilities, and vision impairments.
“Whether you are in management or direct service, whether you’ve been at the Star Center since 1988
or you started a month ago, you are important and your voice matters. Your role is essential and you
are valued,” said David Knack, Manager of Marketing/Events. “I think this commitment to equality is a
big part of our health as an organization.”
“I’m very proud to be a board member of the Star Center. I’ve seen a lot of nonprofits in action, and the
Star Center is unique in its leadership and its ability to function as a team. People are willing to
collaborate and work outside their assigned roles, and that leads to our providing better services to
clients in our community,” said Board Chairman, John Allen. Mr. Allen has been a board member of the
Star Center since 1991.
To learn more about the Star Center, visit www.star-center.org or give us a call at 731-668-3888
For more information on The Nonprofit Times’ Best Nonprofits To Work For program, visit
www.BestNonprofitsToWorkFor.com.
Service Areas
Employment Services – We help people find a job that is right for them. We equip people with
job skills such as resume building, interview etiquette, and self-advocacy abilities. We help
people identify their skills and the type of job they might like. We support people during the
initial stages of employment with the goal of their moving to permanent employment.
Home Care – We help people live safely and independently in the comfort of their homes.
Many people need help around the home. Whether help with bathing, cooking, cleaning, or
medication reminders, Star Center Home Care can help people stay in their home. We work
with clients with disabilities as well as with aging populations.
Art/Music Therapy – We use art and music to reach non-artistic goals. Art and Music Therapy
can be used to reach a variety of goals: mobility, speech, behavior, and others. We provide
music therapy to babies in the Neonatal ICU as well as art therapy to people recovering from a
stroke.
Literacy Lab – We help struggling students succeed in school. Our Literacy Lab features
individualized curriculum that is technology driven. We have a Literacy Specialist supervising all
sessions and providing extra instruction as needed. Parents report that when reading abilities
improve, students have better self-confidence and behavior in school. No disability diagnosis is
required for this area of service.
Vision Services – We help people with low-vision live independently. We offer Orientation and
Mobility training to teach people to navigate their surroundings safely. We train people in all of
West Tennessee to use long white canes.
Assistive Technology – We leverage technology to improve a person’s quality of life. We
perform assessments to identify what a person’s needs are and how technology might help
them to perform daily tasks at work, home, or school more efficiently.
