HISTORY

Founded in the 19th century, Family & Children’s Center is one of northern Indiana’s oldest nonprofit institutions and will mark its 125th year of service in 2007.

              Family & Children’s Center traces its history to the founding of an orphanage in Mishawaka, Indiana, in the year 1882.  In that year, the local chapter of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union founded the Orphan’s Home Association of St. Joseph County.  The home provided temporary shelter to orphaned or unwanted children while suitable permanent homes were being sought for them.  At the time, this practice often involved sending children on long and lonely railroad trips – sometimes called “orphan trains” – to new families living on the western frontier.  During its first 18 months, the home served more than 80 children.

              However, the founders were unable to continue supporting the home financially, so a new governing board took over.  In 1884, the home became part of a state network, and became known as the Northern Indiana Orphans Home, serving six counties in northern Indiana.

              A few years later, in 1890, the home reorganized again as the Children’s Aid Society of Indiana.  Through generous donations, the Society was able to purchase 16 acres of land at the corner of Lincoln Way and Logan streets in Mishawaka.  More than a century later, 12 acres of this original site remain the headquarters location of today’s Family & Children’s Center.

              During the first half of the 20th century, several structures were built on the site to care for and house orphaned and unwanted children:  a three-story structure built in 1906 to house 200 children, a chapel in 1911, a hospital in 1914, a school in 1920, and a “baby house” in 1932.  A chicken coop was converted into a residence for the superintendent!

              The second half of the 20th century brought more organizational changes and the first use of the Family & Children’s Center name.  In 1956, the Children’s Aid Society merged with Family Services of St. Joseph County and two years later, in 1958, adopted the name Family & Children’s Center, Inc.

              In the early 1960s, out-of-home care for children was taking on a different character.  More and more children were being placed with Family & Children’s Center as a result of behavior disorders and emotional problems.

              In the early 1970s, Family & Children’s Center’s focus evolved from the custodial care of previous decades to more specialized casework and treatment within a continuum of care philosophy.

              The year 1979 also brought one of Family & Children’s Center’s greatest challenges.  In September of that year, fire destroyed the main building, a local landmark remembered by area residents to this day.  Undaunted, the board, leadership and staff of Family & Children’s Center planned, financed and built a new central services building on the site, which today continues to serve as Family & Children’s Center’s headquarters.

              Family & Children’s Center’s present structure as an affiliation of nonprofit organizations began taking shape in the 1980s.  In 1987, Family & Children’s Center reorganized into separate corporations, with Family & Children’s Center Inc. serving as the parent organization. 

              As part of the reorganization, the residential and home-based treatment division located on the grounds of Family & Children’s Center’s property in Mishawaka became known as The Children’s Campus.  The Children’s Campus treats severely emotionally disturbed children, adolescents and their families in residential environments ranging from secure care to independent living.  The majority of children served remain in treatment for approximately one year.  On any given day, more than 130 children are cared for by the master's level therapists, registered nurses, consultants and staff of The Children's Campus. While living on Campus, children receive intensive therapuetic services while attending school at the on-site facility administered by the School City of Mishawaka. 

              Family & Children's Center Counseling and Development Services adopted its present name in the year 2000.  At the time of the 1957 merger, the Family Service Division was formed, and thirty years later, in 1987, the division changed its name to Family & Children’s Services of St. Joseph County.  In 1997, the division changed its name to Turning Point, and three years later combined its services with NorthStar (previously known as CANC0) and adopted the present name, Family & Children’s Center Counseling and Development Services.   

Family & Children's Center Counseling and Development Services staff, consisting of the area's most skilled and caring social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, case workers, family support specialists and case managers, offers counseling for a wide-range of issues including:  marriage, family and relationship issues; anger management; alcohol, drug and other addictions; depression and anxiety disorders; bereavement and grief recovery; parenting education; and postpartum and perinatal mood disorders.  In addition to individual and group counseling, the Emergency Assistance Program helps individuals and families cope with crisis situations related to food, rent, utilities and prescription medicine.  Finally, the Healthy Families program helps teen parents by promoting positive parenting habits, encouraging healthy childhood growth and development, and providing in-home supportive services.

Holy Cross Counseling Group became an affiliate of Family & Children’s Center in 2002.  Founded in 1993 by four Brothers of the Holy Cross, this agency established a fine reputation as specialists in the treatment of sexual trauma.  One of the founders, Br. Thomas Balthazor, had previously worked as a therapist at the Children’s Campus, and his primary area of care was sexual offenders and victims of sexual assault.  In 2006, Holy Cross Counseling Group merged with FCC Counseling and Development Services.  As a vital program of this affiliate, Holy Cross Counseling Program remains a leader in providing highly specialized therapeutic services for those suffering from sexual abuse.

         Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County became an affiliate of Family & Children’s Center in 1992. Originally named the Boys Club of South Bend, this youth organization literally started in a treehouse as a response to rising crime rates and gang activities in South Bend’s southeast side neighborhood.  Also affiliated with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County benefited from the new relationship with Family & Children’s Center in the 1990s through a major capital campaign that led to construction of its main site at 502 E. Sample Street in South Bend, known as the O. C. Carmichael, Jr. Youth Center.  In addition to this stand-alone Club, Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County also provide programming to children at four school sites in both South Bend and Mishawaka.  In all, the Clubs provide quality, after-school and summer programming to more than 1,500 boys and girls in St. Joseph County.

              In addition to its affiliates that provide services to their constituents and their community according to their resources and expertise, Family & Children’s Center also includes the Family & Children’s Center Foundation.  Formed in 1987, Family & Children’s Center Foundation assists in raising funds and developing resources to support Family & Children’s Center.

This year marks the 125th anniversary for Family & Children’s Center.  Continuing in the traditional of helping our community's neediest children, Family & Children's Center has become one of northern Indiana’s leading human service organizations.  Family & Children’s Center’s work is made possible through the