About Us
Our Mission
To provide quality, accessible healthcare services to strengthen children, families and communities.
Our Vision
A future where all children and families have access to the resources they need to grow into healthy, contributing members of society.
A community leader since 1896, Child & Family Guidance Center takes a comprehensive approach to treating individuals with complex mental and behavioral health challenges throughout seven North Texas counties - Dallas, Collin, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, and Rockwall. Since our establishment, we have been committed to providing quality, compassionate care to those in need. Today, we take immense pride in providing a wide range of comprehensive mental health services tailored to meet the unique needs of every North Texan.
At Child & Family Guidance Center, we believe everyone deserves access to quality care, so no one is ever turned away-regardless of their ability to pay. From initial assessment to ongoing care, our doctors and counselors are committed to helping tens of thousands of North Texans each year recover from trauma caused by abuse, severe neglect, and poverty-empowering them to thrive in their communities.
Our History
Over the past 128 years, Child & Family Guidance Center has evolved to deliver the most visionary behavioral health services to children, adults, and families across North Texas.
Founding
1896
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.
Expansion of Services
1920s
Throughout the 1920s, United Charities worked diligently to provide relief and 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 requests for assistance grew. As a result of these challenging times, United Charities continued to expand its services.
Family Service
1930s
In 1937, with the assistance of the Family Service Association of America, United Charities 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.
Family Guidance Center
1950s & 1960s
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.
Community Education
1970s & 1980s
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.
CFGC
1990s
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.
The Present
2020s
With the need for mental health being higher than ever, Child & Family Guidance Center has launched new ventures to better our community.
(1)Child & Family RX: our on-site pharmacy that helps us better serve our clients by addressing accessibility concerns.
(2)Child & Family Primary Care, which allows our clients to establish a care team within CFGC that addresses not only their mental health, but also their physical healthcare needs.
These new advancements allow our patrons to recieve a complete continuum of care.
The Future
2024 and Beyond
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.