Daryn R. Clark

Daryn attended Northeast Louisiana University receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling. Not long after receiving his graduate degree in 1986, Daryn experienced his first visit to a small Group Home for men with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Shreveport, LA. This visit changed his life forever. He felt a real calling to work within the service delivery systems established by Louisiana and supported by the Federal Government to help people stay in their community.

Between 1986 and 1991 he ran many Provider Agency programs both in Shreveport and in New Orleans. In 1991 he founded Southern Ingenuity, Inc. to become one of the first Waiver Providers in this state. Since 1991 he grew the company to serve more of Louisiana setting offices in Natchitoches, Homer, Shreveport, and the base office in New Orleans. The offices in Northern Louisiana flourish. The office in New Orleans was sadly decimated by Hurricane Katrina. Southern Ingenuity was key in helping over 60 families evacuate that terrible storm and the aftermath that followed.

Daryn and Southern Ingenuity, Inc. was the first Provider to be selected in the Federally Mandated Downsizing of Louisiana’s institutions in 1996. Consumer’s that had lived in the institution for over 40 years were now experiencing life in a real community through his company’s efforts. Daryn worked directly with the Federal Justice Department assuring the services of those in the institutions were transferable to their own home in the community. The first people out of Pinecrest Institution are still consumers of SI some 14 years later.

Southern Ingenuity sees the great need for help with the aging population, as with just a little assistance many people can stay home rather than going into a nursing home or other facility.

Daryn has been key in helping the Department of Health and Hospitals make important changes to the services in Louisiana. He was part of a diverse committee that was charged with getting a community based service system accepted by the Federal Government. He and Southern Ingenuity, Inc. were one of only three Providers on the 12 person committee.

Daryn is active outside of business raising a family, serving as Board Chair for his local private School Board, is an active Martial Arts instructor, assisted with the growth of an International Karate Hall of Fame, and is working hard to make a difference in the health of today’s adults and children through the promotion of exercise.

Daryn sees SI growing even in these tough times. He hopes this website will become a hub of information for people and providers that need up to date information on services in this state. The Resource Center within this website will be a great place for anyone to get the latest from the Government entities that control the services.

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