WINONA, Minn. — Family & Children’s Center today invited local residents to take a closer look at what’s been happening behind the scenes at 601 Franklin Street in Winona. That’s the new home for the center’s Minnesota headquarters, representing a much-needed upgrade and facility expansion.

Family & Children’s Center President and CEO John Burgess said the facility opening represents a benefit for everyone in the community. “This facility makes our continuum of services more convenient and accessible to the children and families we serve and brings greater efficiencies both in treatment and administration.”

The 31,000-square-foot facility houses all the center’s community services in Winona, including alternative education, day treatment, in-home counseling, outpatient counseling, tracking program, youth night campus and treatment foster care. It also serves as Family & Children’s Center’s Minnesota headquarters, where other Minnesota services are administered, and as home to Matty’s Place, a child advocacy center that community advocates have been planning for years.

The building purchase and renovations-to-date were made possible by generous donors to the Campaign for Better Tomorrows, a $2.5 million capital campaign to ensure Family & Children’s Center has the proper facilities to provide services over the long term. Burgess said the campaign continues as the center seeks funds to complete the facility and put all the space to work for area children and families.

Family & Children's Center began serving Winona County with alternative education programs in 1998, but its Winona roots date back to the 1880s when Family Service of Winona began operations as the Margaret Simpson Home. The organizations merged in 2006. Since that time demand for and use of Family & Children’s Center services have more than quadrupled.

Founded in 1881, Family & Children's Center is a regional, not-for-profit agency that has helped thousands of children, adults and families enjoy better tomorrows. The center provides a continuum of services designed to strengthen families and promote individual well-being, including child abuse/neglect prevention programs, alternative schools, community-based counseling, community support services for people with severe and persistent mental illness, residential treatment options and several outreach programs.

With headquarters in La Crosse, Wis., and Winona, Minn., the center serves people throughout western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota and has additional offices in Black River Falls, Wis., Holmen, Wis., Rochester, Minn., and Viroqua, Wis.