The Early Years: 1886-1925
In the fall of 1886, a group of thirteen women met at the Maverick Hotel to found a home for destitute and orphaned children. In February of 1887, a state charter was obtained. During the next few years, several moves were made to accommodate more orphans until, in 1890, a large home was acquired at 802 Kentucky Avenue. To accommodate even more children, a campaign was begun in 1924 to raise funds for a new building to be erected on 50 acres of land on Woodlawn Avenue. In a great show of civic pride and humanitarian sentiment, volunteers collected $250,000 for this building campaign.

The Woodlawn Years: 1926-2000
In January 25, 1926, the move to the new home was accomplished. In succeeding years, the same admission policy was followed - a home was to be provided for children who were needy, neglected, or orphaned. Evolving through the years in response to community needs, by the 1960s the center began the transition from orphanage to a residential treatment facility for emotionally disturbed youth. Five home-like cottages were erected on the orphanage grounds at the Woodlawn location, where they began accepting emotionally disturbed youth for long-term treatment. The Center continued providing these services through the 1960s and early 1970s, until a need developed for more intensive psychiatric treatment in a hospital setting. In 1970, the Center formalized an agreement with the University of Texas Health Science Center to become an affiliate teaching hospital and was licensed as a private psychiatric hospital, as well.

By 1986, the Center offered a wide range of mental health services, including comprehensive diagnostic services, acute care and crisis intervention programs, moderate and long-term care for chronic or difficult-to-treat patients, and outpatient services. The affiliation with the medical school resulted in national recognition for both its training program in child psychiatry and its research activities in the causes and treatments of psychiatric disorders appearing in childhood and adolescence.

Medical Center Years: 1988-present
In 1988, a new facility at 8535 Tom Slick Drive provided more services, a clinical and administrative office building, a dining hall, and an activity/education complex. In keeping with the pattern of growth and evolution of community needs, the hospital on Tom Slick continues to expand and grow, while the Woodlawn facility closed in the fall of 2000. The Center still operates under its original not-for-profit charter from 1887. Its century of stability, growth and service to the community is attributable to the vision of its governing board of volunteers, which continues to foster and maintain its primary mission of care and hope for children in need.