Children & Families of Iowa history

1894: Doctor Agnes Eichelberger and Police Matron Thurston began organizing a home for indigent children in Sioux City.

1895: Property purchased, Board of Directors organized, and the Babies’ Home Society established.

1904: The Society received its Charter and became a member of the National Florence Crittenton Home Mission.

1907: Florence Crittenton Home dedicated.

1928: Maternity Hospital sold to the Methodist Hospital for use as a Nurses’ Training School.

1972: Emergency shelter services began for girls ages birth to 13.

1992: Changed agency name to Crittenton Center.

1995: Expanded social work services and began to provide Adoptive Child Studies.

1997: Completed renovation and moved the Emergency Shelter Care program to the Center for Shelter and Youth Development.

2000: Awarded Continuum of Care Grant to initiate Project LIFE, an independent living program for children age 18 or older aging out of shelter or foster care.

2003: Purchased property at 303 W. 24th Street for use as Administration Offices, Maternal Health Program, and Family Development Services.

2007: Stella Sanford Preschool opened at Westside Resource Center.

2011: Pierce Street property sold, Everett & Smith Preschools merged to form two new classrooms in Liberty School, and the Center was awarded a Continuum of Care Grant to expand Project Life to include individuals with disabilities.

2013: Crittenton Center’s Resource Center accredited through Iowa Family Support, the property at 1111 28th Street was sold to H&S Properties, and Project Life’s Programs became Salvation Army Programs with case management by Crittenton Center

Janice Lane, CFI’s Chief Operating Officer, is promoted to the role of CEO, effective March 1, 2015.

In April 2016, the decision is made to close the Farrand House.

2017: Project HELP Program started working with chronically homeless, disabled adults and Supervised Apartment Living Cluster Site began inside the Emergency Shelter.