History

History of the El Paso Child Guidance Center

The first recorded, organized efforts to address mental health issues in El Paso occurred in 1947. This first collaborative effort was chaired by the El Paso Mental Health Society, (presently known as the El Paso Mental Health Association) and the Junior League of El Paso, and included school officials, doctors, ministers, social workers, city and county officials and PTA members. These bold visionaries led the effort to affect a community awareness and understanding of mental health issues and to establish an outpatient mental health clinic for children and their families.

Throughout the planning process numerous organizations participated, including; Hogg Foundation, University of Texas, the Texas State Department of Health, El Paso County Medical Society, Kappa Kappa Gamma; Junior Woman’s Club; National Council of Jewish Women; Young Matrons’ Club of the Woman’s Club and the Women’s Auxiliary Church of St. Clement.

In 1951 the first Board of Directors was selected to initiate the birth and future course of the Center. Officers chosen were: Mrs. I.W. Gillett, President; Mrs. Ben Howell, Vice-President; Rev. Wm. Steffen, Secretary and Rev. E.G. Watts, Treasurer. Directors were Mrs. John Barry, Mrs. T.P. Clendenin, Mrs. Tom Donaldson, Ernest Ponce, Dr. Floyd Fierman, Mrs. Charles Gabriel, Judge Victor Gilbert, Mrs. Robert Given, Mrs. H. Walters, Mrs. Howard Maxon and Mrs. Herbert Schwartz.

On February 9, 1953 the El Paso Guidance Center was incorporated as a non-profit organization. The first year budget was: $5,000 El Paso City Schools; $5,000 Hogg Foundation and $5,400 from the Texas State Department of Health.

In 1954 Dr. Chester Reynolds, Director of the Rochester, New York Guidance Center was hired as the Executive Director and the El Paso Guidance Center opened its doors in a rented house at 3016 Wyoming Street.

The El Paso Guidance Center was admitted to the United Fund (presently known as the United Way) in 1957, as one of the Fund’s agencies.

In 1963 the Luis Zork family donated their home at 1501 North Mesa for the clinic. The home was built by Mrs. Zork’s father, Adolph Schwartz, in 1913.

This history of the El Paso Guidance Center is from a 1957 speech presented by Mrs. Helen Gillett.