Arrowhead West, Inc. is a not-for profit organization serving children and adults with developmental disabilities with offices located in Dodge City, Medicine Lodge, Pratt, Kinsley, and Wichita Kansas. The agency has touched the lives of over 1,000 clients in the past year and employs over 235 staff members. Arrowhead West, Inc. (AWI) evolved from the efforts of the Dodge City Area Council for Retarded Children which served Ford, Gray and Hodgeman Counties. By 1976, with the addition of the Edwards County Training Center and the expressed interest of other counties, the need for a new provider organization became apparent. Arrowhead West was incorporated in November 1976 and began serving Edwards, Clark, Kiowa and Comanche Counties in addition to the original three. Preschool and adult vocational programs were provided. Residential services were established in 1979 with the opening of two group homes. In 1982 Ness County joined the AWI service system and Meade County joined in 1986. By 1986, new programs in Supported Living and Supported Employment were started. Five additional counties were added to the service area in 1989 (Sedgwick, Barber, Harper, Kingman and Pratt) when Community Living Services, Inc. and the Chikaskia Area Training Center merged with AWI. Today the organization operates day services at six locations, many community-based supported employment sites, over thirty residential sites and home-based Child Services out of Pratt and Dodge City offices. From its humble, beginnings AWI has grown to annually serve over 1,000 children and adults.