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About Center for Children

Serving our community for more than 30 years!

Established in 1989, Center for Children is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse and the promotion of positive mental and behavioral health through crisis intervention, therapy and education. Center for Children offers a wide variety of mental health services for the entire family. Our outpatient clinic is licensed by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene serving more than 4,500 individuals each year from Charles, St. Mary's, Calvert, Prince Georges, Anne Arundel and Howard counties. 

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The Center for Children is currently the largest provider of children's mental health services in Southern Maryland. We employ two child Psychiatrists available to people who are in the public mental health system.

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Center for Children is a major resource for schools, pediatricians, Department of Social Services, county health departments and other youth organizations. We provide the only primary child abuse prevention program targeted specifically at high risk expecting parents and parents of young children.

Promoting Positive Mental Health 

Our Mission

Center for Children is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse and the promotion of positive mental and behavioral health through crisis intervention, therapy and education. 

 

 

Our Vision  

Is to ensure that every child grows up healthy, happy and safe.

 

We are leading the charge daily in the fight to prevent and treat victims of child abuse through various programs. 

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We Are here to serve you!

Our team of qualifies professional clinicians provide comprehensive mental health services including individual and family therapy, play therapy, psychological testing and evaluations and more than 19 programs and service for children, teens and families. 

​Center for Children Milestones 

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  • 1989: The Center was incorporated as a private non-profit and was awarded the Governor’s Victim Assistance Award.

  • 1992: The Executive Director was awarded the Governor’s Victim Assistance Award.

  • 1993: The Juvenile Sex Offender Evaluation program was initiated.

  • 1994: The Center became an outpatient mental health clinic licensed by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The Center began its Court Liaison Program for Maryland Victims of Crime.

  • 1996: The Center began providing on-call services with the Sheriff’s Office to victims of personal injury crimes (i.e., homicide).

  • 1997: The Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (CASA) was established.

  • 1998: The Center became the only licensed Divorce Education program in the County. The Supervised Visitation Program began. It was the only supervised visitation program in the county and the first in the state of Maryland. CASA of St. Mary’s County trained its first class of volunteers.

  • 1999: The Healthy Families Charles County Program was designed to offer supportive services to new parents including home visits by trained family support workers.

  • 2000: The Center was given the Governor’s Citation for Excellence for the Friends Indeed Mentoring Program.

  • 2001: The Center for Children moved to a new location on Radio Station Road in La Plata, MD.

  • 2002: The Center for Children collaborated with FEMA to host Project Restore for the survivors of the F4 La Plata tornado. The Center for Children expanded the CASA program to Charles County. The Center received Federal Funding to mentor children with incarcerated parents.

  • 2003: Awarded a three year  federal grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Administration for Children and Families and the Family and Youth Services Bureau to mentor the children of prisoners(MCP).

  • 2004: The Center received its third Governor’s Victim Assistance Award recognizing outstanding service to victims of violent crime. The Center celebrated its 15th year of service, having assisted more than 30,000 children and families across Southern Maryland during that time. CASA expanded to Charles County, thus changing the name from CASA of St.
    Mary’s County to CASA of Southern Maryland.

  • 2005: Center for Children opened offices in Calvert County.

  • 2006: Awarded additional three year  federal grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Administration for Children and Families and the Family and Youth Services Bureau to mentor the children of prisoners(MCP).

  • 2007: Center for Children begins offering Community Investment Tax Credits. Expansion grant awarded for expansion of CASA in Calvert County.

  • 2008: The Charles County Commissioners present the proclamation designating the week of April 13 as “Protecting Our Children Week.”

  • 2009: Hosted first Annual Touch-A-Truck Event. Family Resource Center opened in Calvert County. Awarded William S. Abell Foundation, Inc. grant for $25,000.

  • 2010: The Center for Children presents Maryland State Senator Thomas M. Middleton with the “Take Away Their Tears” honor to showcase appreciation for his continued advocacy and legislation in support of children’s issues.

  • 2011: Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) holds Charity Golf Tournament to benefit the Center for Children and donates over $15,000.

  • 2012: Executive Director Catherine L. Meyers, LCPC, was presented the Outstanding Service Award in Mental Health by the National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC). Catherine was also named to The Daily Record’s 2012 List of Maryland’s Top 100 women.

  • 2013: Prevent Child Abuse America (PCAA) accredits the Center for Children’s Healthy Families America program as a provider of high quality home visitation services to families who want to improve their child’s health, nutrition and developmental outcomes.

  • 2014: Case Management program extends to include Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s Counties. Healthy Families Charles County expands to Healthy Families Southern Maryland to include St. Mary’s County. The Charles County Commissioners present the proclamation designating the month of April  as “Child Abuse Awareness Month.”

  • 2018: The Center for Children awarded a three-year CARF accreditation applied to the following program(s)/service(s) through January 31, 2021:

    Governance Standards Applied. CARF accreditation is an indication of the organization’s dedication and commitment to improving the quality of the lives of the persons served.

    • Case Management/Services Coordination: Mental Health (Children and Adolescents)

    • Community Integration: Mental Health (Children and Adolescents)

    • Intensive Outpatient Treatment: Alcohol and Other Drugs/Addictions (Children and Adolescents)

    • Outpatient Treatment: Mental Health (Adults)

    • Outpatient Treatment: Mental Health (Children and Adolescents)

  • 2019: Center for Children celebrates 30 Year Anniversary and host Gala Fundraiser honoring community leaders and organizations that have supported our efforts through the years. 

  • 2020: In the wake of the global COVID 19 pandemic, Center for Children began offering telehealth services to ensure that clients could still have access to treatment during crisis.

  • 2021: Center for Children introduces the Youth Intervention and Engagement Program. A program dedicated to assisting young adults between the ages of 16 - 24 by addressing significant challenges they may face in our community and helping them create positive resolutions. The Center for Children awarded a three-year CARF accreditation applied to the following program(s)/service(s) through January 31, 2024:

  • Governance Standards Applied. CARF accreditation is an indication of the organization’s dedication and commitment to improving the quality of the lives of the persons served.

  • Case Management/Services Coordination: Mental Health (Children and Adolescents)

  • Community Integration: Mental Health (Children and Adolescents)

  • Intensive Outpatient Treatment: Alcohol and Other Drugs/Addictions (Children and Adolescents)

  • Outpatient Treatment: Mental Health (Adults)

  • Outpatient Treatment: Mental Health (Children and Adolescents)

  • 2022: Center for Children was recognized by the Charles County States Attorney Office during National Crime Victims Rights Week as an organization dedicated to helping victims and survivors of crimes.

  • 2023: Healthy Families Southern Maryland was awarded expedited re-accreditation, a status achieved by only 15% of sites nationwide in the past year. Healthy Families met 100% of the 124 standards of fidelity assessed by Healthy Families America National Peer Reviewers.

 

Governance Standard Applied. CARF accreditation is an indication of the organization's dedication and commitment to improving the quality of the lives of the persons served. 

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