About

Mission of CEC Health Care

To provide access to high-quality and comprehensive medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare. To improve the well-being and quality of life of individuals who have historically been medically underserved. CEC’s unique approach to healthcare includes:

  • Patient-Centered Care
  • Cultural Sensitivity
  • Healthcare at an Affordable Cost
  • Multilingual Services

Our History

CEC Health Care, formerly known as the Charles Evans Center (CEC), is a not-for-profit organization that operates a Federally Qualified Health Center, various licensed behavioral health treatment services, specialized support services, and a mental health residential program.

Prior to the establishment of CEC as a separately incorporated entity, its services were delivered under the auspice of our trusted community partner, ACLD (Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities).   CEC began with a focus on serving those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and it was determined that we could best meet the health care needs of those with I/DD by becoming a Federally Qualified Health Center.

With this mission in mind, the Board of Directors of ACLD voted to establish a new entity known as the Charles Evans Center, to become a Federally Qualified Health Center, on their campus in Bethpage, and ground broke for the new building the following year. In the years since, CEC has also added a Suffolk County clinic in Hauppauge, expanding it’s ability to care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Long Island, NY. To this day, we still care for many of the men and women supported in ACLD’s programs.

Our story then entered a new chapter in 2019 when the Melillo Center for Mental Health merged into CEC.  The Melillo Center was a longtime pillar of the Glen Cove community, and with this move we expanded of scope to include behavioral health clinics licensed by the NYS Office of Mental Health and the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports, an OMH licensed Assertive Community Treatment team, OMH licensed and funded mental health housing, and various specialized support services.  Since that time, CEC has added a Health Home Care Management operation, and various programs that enhance our ability to provide community-based outreach, assessment and referral services.

Today we are proud to provide Care with Excellence and Compassion to underrepresented populations, and we always strive to meet the unique healthcare needs of each person served, including individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and those with serious mental health and substance use concerns.

Learn more about our services here and our truly integrated, and culturally informed approach to care delivery. Our services are available to all community members and Medicare, Medicaid, Medicaid Managed Care, and private insurance plans are accepted. We also provide care to individuals with limited incomes with a focus on preventative healthcare and wraparound supportive services to ensure healthy lifestyles.

 

Who Was Charles Evans?

Charles Evans (May 13, 1926 – June 2, 2007) was an American business leader and philanthropist. He co-founded the women’s fashion house Evan-Picone in 1949 and sold it to Revlon in 1962.

In 1988, Evans founded the Charles Evans Foundation to carry on his wide range of interests in charitable giving. Among his other giving endeavors, in 2011, the foundation helped fund a state-of-the-art healthcare facility for people with developmental disabilities for the nonprofit group Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities Inc. The building was named the Charles Evans Health Services Center.

In 2023, the Charles Evans Center began doing business as CEC Health Care. This name change underscored our commitment to partnering with those we serve in promoting their health and overall well-being, and tells people who we are and what we do, in a more direct, concise way. Additionally, the use of “CEC” in the name preserves the legacy of Charles Evans and his wonderful work.