The mission of Abilene Child Centered Educational Support Services (ACCESS) is to create a healthy community, in collaboration with others, where youth in at-risk situations and their families can experience success.

Brief History
Hardin Simmons University (HSU) Department of Social Work students conducted a Sears Park neighborhood survey in 1998 indicating community concerns including the need for after school care for at risk students and lack of technology access. The survey suggested a solution which led to the birth of ACCESS in August 1999 with the intent to address the needs of the "total child" (i.e. siblings, parents, extended family members, school, neighborhood, church.) ACCESS started with an after school tutoring program for at-risk students with the main components of computer training and academic tutoring. ACCESS has expanded its programs to include: ESL Classes, Basic Computer Class for adults and seniors, Administrator for the local Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), Parent Mentoring, Parenting Classes, Job Search for Adults, 8th Grade Workshop, Summer Reading Camps, and Scholarship Conference.


The ACCESS technology vision is that continued technology access, training and use empower the child, family and neighborhood to success by gaining skills for life, job and learning. We use technology to support activities including technology training, language learning, academic tutoring, job search, pre-job skills and pre-college preparation. ACCESS technology activities help reduce unemployment by increasing job placement, raise education levels by increasing grade level completion and improve community involvement by providing technology access.