Our Mission
Inspired by the Franciscan Values of compassion, dignity and respect, we support persons with developmental and other challenges to achieve their highest quality of life, personal growth and spiritual awareness.
History of St. Coletta of Wisconsin
2009 - The Alverno program closes. The final clients transition to their new home, the recently completed Dower Home in Clare Country Estates. The Alverno building will now begin its next chapter as St. Coletta’s new corporate headquarters.
2008 - Illinois homes grow to ten.
2002 - Development of Clare Country Estates begins. This is a fully integrated neighborhood utilizing existing land resources.
2001 - St. Coletta expands into northern Illinois with the purchase of homes in Arlington Heights and Palatine.
1998 - St. Coletta School becomes St. Coletta of Wisconsin.
1995 - Individuals served by Coletta move out of a group home and into their own apartments, beginning a new chapter in the history of St. Coletta's programs in Madison.
1993 - St. Coletta School welcomed it's first lay President and CEO, Dr. Henry C. Meece Jr.
1991 - Illinois Friends for St. Coletta-Wisconsin is established.
1983 - The Kennedy Family announced a gift in honor of Mrs. Rose Kennedy's 93rd birthday, to facilitate a program that would serve as a national model for aging persons with mental retardation.
1976 - The passing of Public Law 94-142 guaranteed a free, appropriate education in the least restrictive environment; non-discriminatory assessment prior to placement; the formulation of an individualized education plan for all persons placed in special education, and the right of parents to due process with respect to placement.
1965 - The St. Coletta Habilitation Program was initiated to encourage young adults with mental retardation to become successful community members.
1963 - The First International Awards for Achievement in the field of Mental Retardation, sponsored by the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation, was attended by Sr. M. Anastasia and Sr. Mary Theodore.
1957 - Further expansion as St. Coletta Day School opened in Braintree, Massachusetts.
1954 - Inauguration of a five-year program to provide certification for teachers in Special Education.
1948 - Serra Home was built and named in honor of a Franciscan missionary to the early California territory, Father J. Serra. The Serra Home was a "hotel" enabling family members to visit comfortably and clients to obtain hospitality vocational skills.
1944 - To further expand services to persons with mental retardation, the first branch school, St. Coletta of the Rockies, opened at Longmont, Colorado.
1931 - The St. Coletta Institute for Backward Youth was incorporated under a new title. "St. Coletta School for Exceptional Children". This title was chosen out of consideration for parents and family members; also for the residents, one of whom remarked, "We don't walk backward".
1929 - St. Coletta celebrated its Silver Jubilee. 25 years in operation on Sunday, September 22.
1904 - A family approached Father George Meyer about accepting their developmentally disabled daughter as a student.
In September, four pupils arrived at St. Coletta. By December, the enrollment grew to ten pupils, including boys.
