HISTORY
Transforming North Texas's System of Care for 125 Years
Over the past 125 years, Child & Family Guidance Center has evolved to deliver the most visionary behavioral health services to North Texas’s children, adults, and families. We began in 1896 as United Charities, a financial assistance and food distribution center for Dallas residents in desperate need of relief during a record-breaking winter.
Throughout the 1920s, United Charities worked diligently to provide relief and also to help individuals find ways to support themselves. Against the backdrop of the Great Depression, there were many challenges. The number of people out of work and the number of requests for assistance grew. As a result of these challenging times, United Charities continued to expand its services.
In 1937, with the assistance of the Family Service Association of America, it deployed an entire professional staff, able to focus on individual and family relationship issues while providing limited financial assistance. In the early forties, United Charities became known as Family Service, contributing to the general public’s growing awareness of counseling. But with World War II, even more changes would be required. Family Service began several programs during the war years, including Traveler’s Aid and the Working Mother’s Center, which offered child care for women entering the workforce.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Family Service continued to broaden its scope of service. Internships for graduate students began. A television program called Family Life Education, aimed at high school students, later grew to include classes on parenting, marriage enrichment, and divorce adjustment. In 1967, Family Service became Family Guidance Center to more accurately reflect the services being provided at the time.
Over the next two decades, community education programs and services also continued to expand. This included programs to assist police officers in responding to domestic disturbance calls and the Employee Counseling program, which was started to help employees and their families.
The 1990s saw continued growth of services and continued focus on quality. During this decade, Family Guidance Center merged with the Collin County Child Guidance Center and Center for Help of Abused and Neglected Children (CHANCE). They opened a new facility and expanded services to even more counties. In 1996, the 100th anniversary, Family Guidance Center consolidated with Dallas Child Guidance Clinic to form the present-day Child & Family Guidance Center.
With the ever-expanding needs of the community, the Child & Family Guidance Center continued to push forward into the 21st century. Today, we are one of the most comprehensive, family and patient-centered treatment providers to tens of thousands of children, adults, and families annually throughout eight counties in North Texas.
Throughout the 1920s, United Charities worked diligently to provide relief and also to help individuals find ways to support themselves. Against the backdrop of the Great Depression, there were many challenges. The number of people out of work and the number of requests for assistance grew. As a result of these challenging times, United Charities continued to expand its services.
In 1937, with the assistance of the Family Service Association of America, it deployed an entire professional staff, able to focus on individual and family relationship issues while providing limited financial assistance. In the early forties, United Charities became known as Family Service, contributing to the general public’s growing awareness of counseling. But with World War II, even more changes would be required. Family Service began several programs during the war years, including Traveler’s Aid and the Working Mother’s Center, which offered child care for women entering the workforce.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Family Service continued to broaden its scope of service. Internships for graduate students began. A television program called Family Life Education, aimed at high school students, later grew to include classes on parenting, marriage enrichment, and divorce adjustment. In 1967, Family Service became Family Guidance Center to more accurately reflect the services being provided at the time.
Over the next two decades, community education programs and services also continued to expand. This included programs to assist police officers in responding to domestic disturbance calls and the Employee Counseling program, which was started to help employees and their families.
The 1990s saw continued growth of services and continued focus on quality. During this decade, Family Guidance Center merged with the Collin County Child Guidance Center and Center for Help of Abused and Neglected Children (CHANCE). They opened a new facility and expanded services to even more counties. In 1996, the 100th anniversary, Family Guidance Center consolidated with Dallas Child Guidance Clinic to form the present-day Child & Family Guidance Center.
With the ever-expanding needs of the community, the Child & Family Guidance Center continued to push forward into the 21st century. Today, we are one of the most comprehensive, family and patient-centered treatment providers to tens of thousands of children, adults, and families annually throughout eight counties in North Texas.
