Child & Family Guidance Center history

On September 1, 1925, the Bridgeport Mental Hygiene Clinic—the third of its kind in Connecticut—opened its doors.

The Mental Health Act of 1946 made the mental health of people a federal priority allocating funds to states for financing training programs, research in mental health, and the establishment of local community health programs.

In addition to bringing the first child psychiatrist to Austin in 1951, ACGC began to offer client services and consultations to other community agencies, training professional workers and education in mental health to the community.

The establishment of the Family Guidance Center in 1959, represented the culmination of eight years of interest, research, and teamwork on the part of many individuals, civic leaders, and organizations in Montgomery.

1972 - Austin Travis County MHMR partnered with ACGC to provide mental health services at several Austin Travis County MHMR Human Development Centers.

1975 - Austin Child Guidance Center began independent operations in a new location on September 1, 1975.

1976 - Austin Child Guidance Center became the first mental health agency in the area to offer services to children who had been sexually abused.

1988 - Austin Child Guidance Center completed a 9,000 square foot building project that includes a conference room, administrative offices, individual and group therapy rooms; and a waiting room/play area for clients and their families.

1989 - the PAL model became so successful that the Worker's Assistance Program of Texas, a statewide organization active in the field of substance abuse prevention, adopted this program for use in communities throughout Texas.

2001 - Austin Child Guidance Center celebrated our 50th anniversary.

2003 - ACGC published its first book titled Principles of Good Parenting: A Handbook for Bringing up Mentally Healthy and Happy Children.

2013 – True to ACGC’s commitment to professional training and evidence-based treatments, ACGC achieved certified trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). TF-CBT is the most research supported treatment for trauma for children six and older.

2015 – Began offering services to Spanish Speaking Survivors of Crime through a grant from the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

In 2017, CFGC adopted the evidenced based, trauma-informed (TIC) model of care, embracing a culture of care that is permeating the organization from top to bottom.