Comprehensive child care and therapy, tailored to every ability.

At Connected Roots Care Center (CRCC), the wonder of every child’s journey is celebrated, recognizing that all children and their families—whether they are typically developing or have unique developmental or medical needs—are valuable members of the community. For 35 years, CRCC has been committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive environment where children grow, learn and develop together while families receive tailored supports and connections. CRCC helps children, young adults and families plant and grow roots in Omaha.

In classrooms and care spaces, children with diverse abilities engage side by side, learning from one another, building empathy, navigating challenges, and developing friendships. By embracing the full spectrum of human development, CRCC ensures that every child experiences the joy of connection and the power of inclusion.

CRCC believes that all children thrive when given the opportunity to interact and learn together. The center provides individualized care and therapeutic support while fostering an environment where every child, regardless of their developmental path, is welcomed and supported. This inclusive approach not only empowers children with developmental needs to reach their full potential but also exposes typically developing children to diverse perspectives, helping them build empathy, kindness, and social awareness. Together, all children—guided by compassion and respect—navigate their journeys side by side, creating a stronger, more connected community.

To embrace every ability and empower every family, the comprehensive child care services at CRCC include quality education, specialized nursing, rehab therapy, and behavioral health services.

Reach out to learn more or to support our mission.

 

Vision
Embracing every ability, empowering every family.

Mission
To provide children and young adults individualized care rooted in quality education, specialized nursing, rehab therapy, and behavioral health services.

 

Rooted in History, Growing for the Future

Same Great Service, New Organizational Clarity

In the spring of 2025, and in honor of CRCC’s 35th anniversary, a new organizational name was announced to give meaning to each letter in the long-standing CRCC name: Connected Roots Care Center.

When CRCC was created, the founding name was Children’s Respite Care Center. Over the years, the organization dropped that name and simply was known as CRCC. However, a common question was, “What does CRCC stand for?” Now there is a clear answer: Connected Roots Care Center:

• "Connected" emphasizes the crucial alignment between children, families, and care providers, fostering a collaborative environment that ensures holistic development. Connection works in many important ways: connections to services for the children while parents are at work; connections to a group of peers to understand how to navigate the world more effectively and with empathy and skill; and connections to a community.
   
• "Roots" symbolizes how CRCC works, both literally, through the tree imagery in the logo and architecture, and metaphorically, through its integrated approach. It represents the deep foundation CRCC has built in the community. Just as a tree provides stability and nourishment, CRCC offers the support necessary for children to grow and reach their full potential, grounded in research, therapy, and best practices.
   
• "Care" reflects the wide spectrum of services CRCC provides, from comprehensive child care to health care. CRCC tailors its offerings to meet the diverse needs of each child, ensuring support in every aspect of their development.
   
• “Center” signifies CRCC's role as both a physical and symbolic hub for care, continuing the legacy from its founding as a "Care Center." It remains the anchor of community outreach, collaboration, and excellence, providing a place where children, families, and professionals come together to empower children of all abilities. 

While the CRCC name has evolved, one thing remains constant: the excellence and compassion with which CRCC serves its community. Connected Roots Care Center is more than just a name, it’s a promise to stay rooted in service to children and families.

 

Our History

1990

CRCC opened its first facility in 1990 to serve children with special needs and their families in our community. Theresa Fitzgerald, an educator, and Christine Johnson, a nurse, recognized an unmet need in the Omaha community — to deliver joy, hope and health by providing specialized services to children whose needs could not be met in typical care environments. 

Together they co-founded CRCC (once known as Children’s Respite Care Center). While developing CRCC’s programs, Fitzgerald and Johnson discovered the most important source of information was parents — they desired comprehensive services that addressed the cognitive, therapeutic and social needs of their children.

1995 

Demand for services soon exceeded this our first location's capacity, so a second facility was opened in northwest Omaha in 1995. Because of the demand for care of older children and adolescents, a third site was opened in 1999. In 2004, the original northwest location was closed and CRCC opened a newly constructed, state-of-the-art facility with 17,000 square feet of space. Meanwhile, the two southwest sites were consolidated into one, larger location in 2006.

2014 

In April of 2014, CRCC opened its beautiful, custom-built southwest location in the heart of Millard. The facility was designed to meet the organization’s unique needs, and it allowed for expansion of the Day and Outpatient Behavioral Health programs, increased classroom capacity, provided private therapy rooms for current clients and families and supplied space to serve new clients. The new building is also home to a therapy facility, which provides developmental and rehab therapy and features a therapy gym and individualized treatment rooms.

2016

Anne Constantino joined CRCC as the chief executive officer.

Since then, she has spearheaded efforts to strengthen and grow our organization, including securing CARF accreditation, starting an integrated preschool for children of all abilities, increasing advocacy work, expanding respite care into families' homes and behavioral health services in local school districts, and partnering with community organizations like the Munroe-Meyer Institute to enhance rehab therapy services. 

2017

In 2017, we evaluated the name “Children’s Respite Care Center” and researched its perception. The results showed that the longer name was too narrowly focused and that most of the community referred to the organization as simply “CRCC.” Consequently, a rebranding campaign was commissioned using this familiar, shortened name. A new logo, slogan, collateral materials, signage and website were designed to better reflect CRCC’s commitment to create hope and possibilities for clients and their families.

2021

Through navigating a global pandemic and pivoting programs, CRCC won the Omaha Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award for Innovation. 

2022

Mike Bird was promoted from director of development to chief executive officer.