OUr history
A Message from Our President/CEO, Kathleen Welch-Torres, Ph.D.
I am honored and excited to assume the role of President/CEO here at the Child and Family Guidance Center, a leading, non-profit community mental health and social service organization that has served the San Fernando and Antelope Valleys for more than sixty years. I recognize the significance of this transition for our donors, community stakeholders, and employees alike. As I move forward, I want to build upon the strengths of CFGC and facilitate continued growth and success in the coming years. I hope that all of you will continue supporting our mission to empower children and families to achieve health and well-being through innovative mental health services and community programs. Your continued support and engagement are vital to the children and families we serve.
With more than 36 years of experience working at CFGC in a variety of capacities, I have experienced first-hand the successes as well as the challenges facing CFGC and the public mental health system as a whole. Today, we are seeing an unprecedented need and demand for mental health services for our youth. At the same time, we are faced with a severe workforce shortage in the behavioral health profession. A key priority for me is to provide leadership and support to our talented and dedicated staff so as to create a shared vision for serving our community and a positive work environment.
Remaining abreast of national, state and local initiatives, trends, and standards will be an essential part of my role so that CFGC remains competitive and at the forefront of service delivery. My vision for CFGC is one of sustained growth, innovation, and continuous quality improvement. I know that I cannot do this alone. I am fortunate to have a dedicated staff of more than 300, a board who is committed to our success, and many stakeholders and partners willing to collaborate and work towards our goal of bringing high quality mental health programs to our community. Together, we will write the next chapter in CFGC’s history, and I am excited to embark on this journey with each and every one of you.
Warm regards,
Kathleen Welch-Torres, Ph.D.
President/CEO
Kathleen Welch-Torres, Ph.D.
President/CEO
CFGC’s History
1960s
1962
Foundation Year: CFGC is established as the San Fernando Valley Child Guidance Clinic, marking the beginning of dedicated mental health services for children.
1965
Training Initiatives: Launched a professional training program to develop the next generation of mental health practitioners. Received American Psychological Association Accreditation for Psychology Internship Program
1970s
1971
National Recognition: Published Coping With Children’s Reactions to Earthquakes and Other Natural Disasters after the Sylmar earthquake. The resource was widely distributed and translated into Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese.
1973
Day Treatment Program: Introduced a day treatment program providing academic and psychological support for children with severe emotional issues, offering an alternative to hospitalization.
1976
Juvenile Offense Prevention: Initiated the Juvenile Offense Prevention Program to address gang involvement, drug use, truancy, and other risky behaviors.
1976
Child Abuse Prevention: Opened the Family Stress Center in Van Nuys, focusing on child abuse prevention and treatment.
1980s
1980
Public School Counseling: Started counseling programs in public schools for children with severe emotional issues or pre-delinquent behaviors.
1985
Expansion to Lancaster: At the request of the LA County Dept. of Mental Health (DMH), opened the Valley Child Guidance Clinic in Lancaster.
1988
Special Education Support: Developed programs to support children in special education in response to AB3632, serving the San Fernando and Antelope Valleys.
1990s
1994
Community Earthquake Relief: Provided free community counseling in English and Spanish after the Northridge earthquake, distributing 100,000 copies of the Coping brochure, with printing support from State Farm.
1997
Community Resource Center: Opened a resource center at the Park Parthenia Apartments in Northridge.
1998
Rebranding: Changed its name to Child and Family Guidance Center (CFGC) to reflect expanded services for both children and families.
1999
Dual Diagnosis Program: Launched a program for teens dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues. The program became a model for the DMH’s adolescent treatment services.
1999
Health Insurance Outreach: Established a program to assist nearly 70,000 individuals with outreach, enrollment, and retention of health insurance.
2000s
2001
CalWORKs Program: Began the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program.
2001
Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST): Started delivering MST for high-risk youth.
2002
First 5 LA Collaboration: Launched an in-home instruction program through a partnership with First 5 LA.
2004
Parent Libraries: Opened the first Parent Library at the Northridge site, providing resources to empower parents.
2005
School-Based Program: Partnered with LAUSD to introduce mental health services within schools.
2007
Full Service Partnership: Implemented a comprehensive mental health program providing intensive support.
2010s
2013
New Northridge Site: Opened a new facility on Balboa Blvd., expanding access to services.
2013
Expansion of Parent Libraries: Extended Parent Libraries to the Balboa and Palmdale sites.
2015
Suicide Prevention: Launched community training programs such as SafeTALK, ASIST, and Suicide to Hope to promote suicide prevention.
2016
Health Partnerships: Established partnerships with Northeast Valley Health Corporation and Facey Medical Group to offer co-located services.
2016
Foundation Year: CFGC is established as the San Fernando Valley Child Guidance Clinic, marking the beginning of dedicated mental health services for children.
2020s
2020
Telehealth Services: Adapted to emerging needs by offering telehealth services.
2021
DEI Committee: Established a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee to promote an inclusive culture within CFGC.
2022
Community Resource Services: Expanded case management services to the Palmdale site.
2022
Halloween Fest Community Event: Hosted the 1st Annual Halloween Fest, a new community engagement tradition.
2023
Enhanced Care Management: Introduced the Enhanced Care Management Program to provide comprehensive support to vulnerable populations.