The SouthWest Society of Service Coordinators (SWSSC) was originally established as The Texas Society of Qualified Mental Retardation Professionals (QMRPs) in January 1990 as a committee of the association now known as the Private Providers Association of Texas (PPAT).  The Society was formed to provide an avenue through which QMRPs and other professionals working in the field could network and increase their knowledge thereby improving their job performance and ability to meet the needs of the people they serve.  The Society also recognized the need for individuals working in the field to interface with state agencies when departmental policies, rules and actions impacted the way they performed their jobs. 

The Society continued to provide quality educational programs targeting QMRPs and Direct Support Professionals as a committee of PPAT.  In 1995, the Society changed it's name to the SouthWest Society of Service Coordinators to expand it's membership base to include not only QMRPs, but other individuals working in the field coordinating services.  The Society defines a Service Coordinator as:  any individual who arranges for, coordinates, supervises and/or monitors services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  These Service Coordinators are sometimes called Qualified Mental Retardation Professionals (QMRPs), Case Managers, Program Administrators, Nurses or by a host of other titles.

 In March 1999, the SouthWest Society of Service Coordinators became an independent non-profit 501 (c 3) educational organization.  SWSSC continues to provide educational opportunities for Service Coordinators through Conferences and One Day Seminars throughout Texas.