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About the Center | History
Founded in 1887, the San Diego for Children
is the community’s
oldest accredited nonprofit organization serving children, adolescents,
and families.
| 1887 |
The Center began as the Women’s Home Association, a home
for poor, aged and destitute women. |
| 1888 |
The Woman’s Home Association created a Day Care Nursery as
a result of a discussion in the monthly meeting of March, 1888. Records
indicate the group wished to establish the nursery as a service to
working mothers and widowed fathers. The nursery, located on the
corner of First and Cedar Streets, opened in September of 1888, and
was an instant success. |
| 1889 |
Due to the land bubble, many people were impoverished, and were
unable to support their families. The County began placing children
with the Day Nursery on a temporary basis. Leading San Diego businessman
and philanthropist, Bryant Howard, proposed merger of his Children’s
Industrial Home (a special organization serving the needs of homeless,
abused, and delinquent children in the San Diego area) with the Woman’s
Home and Day Nursery. His proposal was accepted by the Association,
completing a merger, and qualifying the home for state aid. |
| 1890 |
A building was erected at the Home’s new site in Balboa Park.
Throughout the 1890s, the Association bemoaned the public’s
perception that the agency was rich, a view which made it decidedly
more difficult to raise contributions in support of its programs.
Perhaps this was due to the social strata of the people associated
with it, or because the children were well-fed, well-clothed, well-mannered,
and well-educated. Whatever the reason, the 1890s were a quiet period
for the Home, and one of slow growth. |
| 1897 |
The San Diego Children’s Industrial Home burned down. |
| 1898 |
The Association changed the name of the home from the Woman’s
Home and Day Nursery to the Women and Children’s Home. The
sponsoring Woman’s Home Association, however, would maintain
its original name for another six years. |
| 1909 |
Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Sefton presented the Home
with funds to construct a clinic known as the Holly Sefton Memorial
Hospital in memory of their son. It was designed by San Diego’s
well-known architect, Irving Gill. |
| 1957 |
The old Children’s Home had to be demolished. |
| 1959 |
The Children’s Home moved from Balboa Park to the present
eight-acre Kearny Mesa site. The name was changed to the San Diego
Center for Children to better reflect the services that were being
offered. |
| Current |
SDCC has focused its attention to advancing
children’s mental health. With support from organizations
and the generosity of our community, we will serve our community
for many years to come. |
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For immediate assistance call the Center at 858-277-9550 |
San Diego Center for Children in 1909
San Diego Center for Children in 1930
San Diego Center for Children in 2005
San Diego Center for Children today.
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