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Welcome!
The Children's Center is a private, not-for-profit organization located in Galveston, Texas. Children's Center programs have served the Galveston area since 1878. The Children's Center was established to provide care, education, treatment, research and training to promote and restore the physical and emotional health of children, youth and their families.
The history of The Children's Center dates back to 1878 when an Island resident, George Dealey, felt that compassionate adults must take responsibility for the sheltering and nurturing of parentless children. Mr. Dealey, an immigrant and father of nine children, saw  how a simple man like himself could help. He spearheaded the opening of the Island City Protestant Orphans Asylum in Galveston at 8th and Broadway Street. Twice moved and renamed, the Orphans Home relocated to 1315 Moody Street in 1881. The Great Storm of 1900 caused serious damage to the home. Philanthropist William Randolph Hurst organized a fund-raiser in New York City to support repair of damages. One special guest was Samuel L. Clemens. Because the population of the Home had changed over the years from orphans to unwanted and neglected children, the board of directors, in 1976, approved another name change to The Galveston Children's Home.
Over the decades, the needs of the children changed and expanded. The Galveston community responded with the establishment of three additional children's programs:
The Society of Friendless Children organized and established facilities for children in 1894. As with the Protestant Orphan's Asylum, the great storm of 1900 caused great damage to the home operated by the society. Philanthropist Albert Lasker supported the establishment of new facilities, which was subsequently dedicated as the Lasker Home for Children, in his honor.
Albertine Yeager, an outstanding Galveston citizen and child advocate, recognized that there continued to be many unwanted Galveston children requiring homes and quality care. Mrs. Yeager opened her own home to these children in 1925, establishing the Albertine Yeager Children's Home.
In the late sixties our society began to recognize that countless children and youth were running away from home and greatly at risk. Galveston children and youth advocates again responded to our own communities needs with the establishment of the Youth Shelter of Galveston, Inc., which in 1972 opened to serve abandoned, abused and homeless youth.
In 1983, The Moody Foundation of Galveston provided leadership in examining the needs and services for children in Galveston County by funding a comprehensive study. In 1984, based upon the recommendations of this study, these four pioneering Galveston child service agencies merged to become The Children's Center, a child welfare organization dedicated to meeting the ongoing and future needs of less fortunate Galveston area children, youth and their families.
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