History of Family & Children’s Center (FCC) from 1881-2009
1881
The Committee for the Wisconsin Humane Society of La Crosse was established for the purpose of preventing cruelty to animals as well as to befriend the indigent and homeless and to protect neglected and abused children and widows. Names like Losey, Hixon, Stoddard and Anderson were founders of this group.
1888
The Society of the La Crosse Home for Friendless Women and Children was founded by the Young Ladies Mission Band in response to two of the greatest needs at the time: destitute women and neglected children.
1912
The Humane Society merged with Associated Charities of La Crosse, strengthening the services to befriend the indigent and homeless.
1917
The Humane Society name changed to Social Service Society and the agency broadened its continuum of services by offering relief work to the poor as well as nursing services for tuberculosis, the epidemic at the time. The agency also became a founding member of the Community Chest, now known as the United Way.
1937
The Society of the La Crosse Home for Friendless Women and Children changed their name to the La Crosse Home for Children and the home narrowed its focus to provide care primarily for dependent/neglected children. The Children's Home on 11th and Ferry Streets served as a warm and safe place for the many children, some whom still reside in La Crosse today.
1941
Social Service Society changed their name to Family Welfare Society, ushering in more services which included housing in foster homes for children in need, feeding transients and local families and distributing food and clothing to families and individuals. The continuum of services changed to meet the needs of the day.
1960
Social Service Society changed their name to La Crosse Family Welfare Association, placing greater emphasis on marital and family counseling, relief for military personnel and Traveler's Aid.
1961
A Citizen's Study under the auspices of the La Crosse Home for Children and the Community Chest and Welfare Federation of La Crosse, Inc., said, "There is considerable merit in the idea of merging or in some way combining the programs of the La Crosse Family Welfare Association and the La Crosse Home for Children." [Note: This conclusion of the Citizen's Study became a reality in 1983.]
1963
A new building was constructed on property donated at 2507 Weston. Following the move, it was determined that with the growth of foster care in the community, the La Crosse Home for Children should gear its services to children who required therapeutic care for emotional or behavioral problems, a service need that was not being met in our area at the time.
1972
La Crosse Family Welfare Association's name changed to Family Service Association, with greater emphasis placed on counseling for families, couples and individuals.
1983
The birth of Family & Children's Center [FCC] occurred with the merger of Family Services Association and La Crosse Home for Children. Since then, services to families and children have more than quadrupled.
1991
After years of nearly bursting at the seams at the Weston location, FCC began searching for a new "home" for some of its programs. Rather than build a new building, the Board of Directors decided that the most fiscally responsible thing to do would be to move some staff to the Grandview Building (formerly the Grandview Hospital).
1992
Half of FCC moved over to the Grandview Center, 1707 Main Street in La Crosse.
FCC becomes one of the first 20 communities nationwide to begin a Healthy Families program to prevent child abuse.
1994
FCC merged with the Douglas Mental Health Foundation, Inc. to continue the quality care of Vernon county residents with Family & Children's Center facilities in Viroqua.
FCC earns national accreditation by the Council on Accreditation for Family& Children’s Services.
1997
Our counseling services move from Weston to Grandview.
FCC purchased a building in downtown Prairie Du Chien to begin services.
1998
FCC is re-accredited as meeting national standards for best practice by the Council on Accreditation for Family & Children’s Services.
A new FCC building is built in Holmen for alternative education services we developed exclusively for the Holmen Schools.
1999
FCC opened a facility in Holmen, Wis., offering Day Treatment, Alternative Education, and In-home counseling.
Services also began in Winona, Minn. with Alternative Education for high school students.
Prairie Du Chein services are discontinued, and the building is sold.
2000
FCC purchased the Grandview Building.
Healthy Families is expanded to Monroe County.
2002
FCC receives national re-accreditation by the Council on Accreditation for Family& Children’s Services.
2004
FCC expands to Black River Falls, after being awarded the contract to provide the Community Support Program for Jackson County.
Independent Living Skills program began in La Crosse County to help foster youth transition successfully to adulthood.
Groundbreaking for Fox Hollow Senior Housing in Holmen, Wis., began.
2005
In Winona, Minn., services expanded to include:
• Alternative education was expanded to include grades K-6
• Day treatment
• Intensive In-Home Counseling
• Supervised visitation
• Tracking program for adolescents under supervision
A new outpatient counseling center was opened in Black River Falls.
Viroqua and Black River Falls outpatient centers added a child psychiatrist.
In Holmen, Fox Hollow Senior Apartments were completed and opened.
FCC introduces The Campaign for Better Tomorrows in the Coulee Region. This is the first ever capital campaign for the agency, aimed to raise $7 Million for capital expenses and endowments for prevention programming.
Thirty day assessment service is expanded to determine appropriate services for troubled children.
2006
A merger with Family Services of Winona was completed, adding outpatient counseling to the Winona service continuum.
Services are expanded into Rochester, Minn. Responding to request from Dodge, Fillmore and Olmsted counties, FCC created and provided a new Youth Night Campus for severely emotionally disturbed youth in corrections.
FCC is granted re-accreditation by the national Council on Accreditation (COA). The voluntary, four-year accreditation attests that Family & Children’s Center meets the highest national standards and is delivering the best quality services to the communities it serves.
La Crosse County contracts with FCC to provide Community Support Program [CSP] for chronically mentally ill.
2007
Healthy Transitions program started to provide guidance and housing support for youth transitioning out of foster care in La Crosse County.
Bridges, an early childhood day treatment program, was developed in Winona. This is one of only three programs across the state of Minnesota.
FCC sponsored a workshop by Anne Gearity, a nationally recognized specialist in early childhood behavioral problems.
FCC began a program in La Crosse to work with Adolescents with Sexual Abuse Problems.
FCC was the beneficiary of the Tri-Quest Charities 12th run-bike-golf event.
FCC’s Independent Living Program starts a Youth Advisory Council (YAC) for current and former foster youth. The YAC is only one of four across the state of Wisconsin.
2008
Winona County awarded FCC a contract to provide Respite Care for foster care providers.
Intensive In-Home Counseling was offered in Rochester, Minn.
FCC collaborated to provide an Emergency Mental Health Service in Viroqua
In April, FCC merged with Stepping Stones, the multi-county Child Advocacy Center located in La Crosse.
In July, FCC merged with Matty’s Place, the Child Advocacy Center under development in Winona.
Alternative education in La Crosse, Wis., was expanded to cover elementary school students.
2009
Franciscan Skemp Healthcare transferred ownership of Hiawatha Hall to FCC.
FCC collaborated with Vernon County to provide CST, Coordinated Services Team program, in Viroqua.
La Crosse County awarded FCC a contract to provide Respite Care.
FCC established Incredible Connections, an Early Childhood Day Treatment program in Rochester.
FCC sold the Holmen building built for alternative education; programming is moved to Granview.
President/CEO, John Burgess was named President of WAFCA: Wisconsin Association of Family and Children Agencies.
Chief Program Officer, Mike Boehm, was named Vice-President of MCCCA: Minnesota Council of Child Caring Agencies.
In June, FCC strategic plans for Winona resulted in the signing of an agreement with Lee Enterprise for the purchase of their Franklin Street building.
History of Family & Children’s Center (FCC) from 1881-2009
1881
The Committee for the Wisconsin Humane Society of La Crosse was established for the purpose of preventing cruelty to animals as well as to befriend the indigent and homeless and to protect neglected and abused children and widows. Names like Losey, Hixon, Stoddard and Anderson were founders of this group.
1888
The Society of the La Crosse Home for Friendless Women and Children was founded by the Young Ladies Mission Band in response to two of the greatest needs at the time: destitute women and neglected children.
1912
The Humane Society merged with Associated Charities of La Crosse, strengthening the services to befriend the indigent and homeless.
1917
The Humane Society name changed to Social Service Society and the agency broadened its continuum of services by offering relief work to the poor as well as nursing services for tuberculosis, the epidemic at the time. The agency also became a founding member of the Community Chest, now known as the United Way.
1937
The Society of the La Crosse Home for Friendless Women and Children changed their name to the La Crosse Home for Children and the home narrowed its focus to provide care primarily for dependent/neglected children. The Children's Home on 11th and Ferry Streets served as a warm and safe place for the many children, some whom still reside in La Crosse today.
1941
Social Service Society changed their name to Family Welfare Society, ushering in more services which included housing in foster homes for children in need, feeding transients and local families and distributing food and clothing to families and individuals. The continuum of services changed to meet the needs of the day.
1960
Social Service Society changed their name to La Crosse Family Welfare Association, placing greater emphasis on marital and family counseling, relief for military personnel and Traveler's Aid.
1961
A Citizen's Study under the auspices of the La Crosse Home for Children and the Community Chest and Welfare Federation of La Crosse, Inc., said, "There is considerable merit in the idea of merging or in some way combining the programs of the La Crosse Family Welfare Association and the La Crosse Home for Children." [Note: This conclusion of the Citizen's Study became a reality in 1983.]
1963
A new building was constructed on property donated at 2507 Weston. Following the move, it was determined that with the growth of foster care in the community, the La Crosse Home for Children should gear its services to children who required therapeutic care for emotional or behavioral problems, a service need that was not being met in our area at the time.
1972
La Crosse Family Welfare Association's name changed to Family Service Association, with greater emphasis placed on counseling for families, couples and individuals.
1983
The birth of Family & Children's Center [FCC] occurred with the merger of Family Services Association and La Crosse Home for Children. Since then, services to families and children have more than quadrupled.
1991
After years of nearly bursting at the seams at the Weston location, FCC began searching for a new "home" for some of its programs. Rather than build a new building, the Board of Directors decided that the most fiscally responsible thing to do would be to move some staff to the Grandview Building (formerly the Grandview Hospital).
1992
Half of FCC moved over to the Grandview Center, 1707 Main Street in La Crosse.
FCC becomes one of the first 20 communities nationwide to begin a Healthy Families program to prevent child abuse.
1994
FCC merged with the Douglas Mental Health Foundation, Inc. to continue the quality care of Vernon county residents with Family & Children's Center facilities in Viroqua.
FCC earns national accreditation by the Council on Accreditation for Family& Children’s Services.
1997
Our counseling services move from Weston to Grandview.
FCC purchased a building in downtown Prairie Du Chien to begin services.
1998
FCC is re-accredited as meeting national standards for best practice by the Council on Accreditation for Family & Children’s Services.
A new FCC building is built in Holmen for alternative education services we developed exclusively for the Holmen Schools.
1999
FCC opened a facility in Holmen, Wis., offering Day Treatment, Alternative Education, and In-home counseling.
Services also began in Winona, Minn. with Alternative Education for high school students.
Prairie Du Chein services are discontinued, and the building is sold.
2000
FCC purchased the Grandview Building.
Healthy Families is expanded to Monroe County.
2002
FCC receives national re-accreditation by the Council on Accreditation for Family& Children’s Services.
2004
FCC expands to Black River Falls, after being awarded the contract to provide the Community Support Program for Jackson County.
Independent Living Skills program began in La Crosse County to help foster youth transition successfully to adulthood.
Groundbreaking for Fox Hollow Senior Housing in Holmen, Wis., began.
2005
In Winona, Minn., services expanded to include:
• Alternative education was expanded to include grades K-6
• Day treatment
• Intensive In-Home Counseling
• Supervised visitation
• Tracking program for adolescents under supervision
A new outpatient counseling center was opened in Black River Falls.
Viroqua and Black River Falls outpatient centers added a child psychiatrist.
In Holmen, Fox Hollow Senior Apartments were completed and opened.
FCC introduces The Campaign for Better Tomorrows in the Coulee Region. This is the first ever capital campaign for the agency, aimed to raise $7 Million for capital expenses and endowments for prevention programming.
Thirty day assessment service is expanded to determine appropriate services for troubled children.
2006
A merger with Family Services of Winona was completed, adding outpatient counseling to the Winona service continuum.
Services are expanded into Rochester, Minn. Responding to request from Dodge, Fillmore and Olmsted counties, FCC created and provided a new Youth Night Campus for severely emotionally disturbed youth in corrections.
FCC is granted re-accreditation by the national Council on Accreditation (COA). The voluntary, four-year accreditation attests that Family & Children’s Center meets the highest national standards and is delivering the best quality services to the communities it serves.
La Crosse County contracts with FCC to provide Community Support Program [CSP] for chronically mentally ill.
2007
Healthy Transitions program started to provide guidance and housing support for youth transitioning out of foster care in La Crosse County.
Bridges, an early childhood day treatment program, was developed in Winona. This is one of only three programs across the state of Minnesota.
FCC sponsored a workshop by Anne Gearity, a nationally recognized specialist in early childhood behavioral problems.
FCC began a program in La Crosse to work with Adolescents with Sexual Abuse Problems.
FCC was the beneficiary of the Tri-Quest Charities 12th run-bike-golf event.
FCC’s Independent Living Program starts a Youth Advisory Council (YAC) for current and former foster youth. The YAC is only one of four across the state of Wisconsin.
2008
Winona County awarded FCC a contract to provide Respite Care for foster care providers.
Intensive In-Home Counseling was offered in Rochester, Minn.
FCC collaborated to provide an Emergency Mental Health Service in Viroqua
In April, FCC merged with Stepping Stones, the multi-county Child Advocacy Center located in La Crosse.
In July, FCC merged with Matty’s Place, the Child Advocacy Center under development in Winona.
Alternative education in La Crosse, Wis., was expanded to cover elementary school students.
2009
Franciscan Skemp Healthcare transferred ownership of Hiawatha Hall to FCC.
FCC collaborated with Vernon County to provide CST, Coordinated Services Team program, in Viroqua.
La Crosse County awarded FCC a contract to provide Respite Care.
FCC established Incredible Connections, an Early Childhood Day Treatment program in Rochester.
FCC sold the Holmen building built for alternative education; programming is moved to Granview.
President/CEO, John Burgess was named President of WAFCA: Wisconsin Association of Family and Children Agencies.
Chief Program Officer, Mike Boehm, was named Vice-President of MCCCA: Minnesota Council of Child Caring Agencies.
In June, FCC strategic plans for Winona resulted in the signing of an agreement with Lee Enterprise for the purchase of their Franklin Street building.