CFGC History :

The agency has a long history dating back to 1924 when the “Better Bridgeport” newspaper reported that the Bridgeport Society for Mental Hygiene voted to open a free psychiatric clinic. On September 1, 1925 the Bridgeport Mental Hygiene Clinic was opened to the public at 991 Broad Street in Bridgeport a few days a week with one day for psychiatric examinations by Dr. Daniel P. Griffin, psychiatrist. The clinic was staffed by a part-time psychologist and a full-time social worker. On October 6, 1928, Dr. Griffin resigned as medical director and Dr. Everett S. Rademacher assumed the position on January 1, 1929. Twenty years later, Dr. Gerald J. Taylor became the medical director and the first full-time psychiatrist who provided free care to the public. Taylor reported that during February, March and April in 1949, the clinic significantly treated more individuals than the entire admissions for 1946. Just a few years later in January, 1951, Dr. Elwyn Smolen became the new medical director. Five years later the clinic received a state grant of $4,000 to expand its services and in 1957, the Bridgeport Society for Mental Hygiene changed its name to the Child Guidance Clinic of Greater Bridgeport. In 1974 Dr. Smolen resigned and Patrick D. Bologna was named executive director of the agency. Bologna established the Parent Enrichment Program in 1977 with funding from the United Way and the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association. That same year the agency expanded and opened a clinic on the East Side of Bridgeport at 540 Pembroke Street. The clinic later moved to 932 East Main Street two years later, but had to close permanently in 1991 due to a fire at that site. After 18 years with the Child Guidance Center of Greater Bridgeport, Pat Bologna resigned and Dr. L. Philip Guzmán, a clinical psychologist, assumed directorship of the agency. To date, the agency, located at 180 Fairfield Avenue, has 100 staff members and 20 programs and services geared to serve children with mental health, behavioral and substance abuse problems as well as providing supportive services to parents with a special focus on families as a unit. The agency has expanded its services beyond the Greater Bridgeport area to Fairfield County via its Emergency Mobile Crisis Services and In-home Functional Family Treatment. The agency currently provides treatment to over 2,000 families annually, offers parenting education and pairs seniors as mentors with children in schools and community centers.

The Child and Family Guidance center has a long history dating back to 1924 when the Bridgeport Mental Hygiene Society voted to open a free psychiatric clinic. On July 1, 1925 the Bridgeport Mental Hygiene Clinic was open at 991 Broad Street one day a week for examinations by Dr. Daniel Pl Griffin. On October 6, 1928 Dr. Griffin resigns as Medical Director and Dr. Everett S, Rademacher assumes the position on January 1, 1929. Later that same year the Bridgeport Mental Hygiene Society moves to 289 Golden Hill Street. In 1934 Dr. George K. Pratt becomes clinical director when Dr. Rademacher enters private practice and the clinic moves to 189 State Street. After 12 years of service, Dr. Pratt resigns in 1946 and Dr. Mildred Pellens assumes duties as Medical Director. On January 1, 1949, the Bridgeport Mental Hygiene Clinic for Children and Adults moves to 1074 Iranistan Avenue and is open on a full-time basis. Dr. Gerald J. Taylor becomes the Medical Director and the first full-time psychiatrist who will provide free care to the public. He reports that during February, March and April 1949, the clinic treated more individuals that the entire admissions for 1946. In January 1951, Dr. Elwyn Smolen becomes the new Medical Director. Five years later the clinic receives a State grant of $4000 to expand services. In addition to Dr. Smolen, the clinic staff consisted of Dr. Paul H. Harwood, part-time psychiatrist, 3 social workers and a full-time secretary. In 1957 the Bridgeport Mental Hygiene Society changes its name to the Child Guidance Clinic. In 1974 Dr. Smolen resigns and Patrick D. Bologna is named Executive Director of the agency. Mr. Bologna establishes the Parent Enrichment Program in 1977 with funding from the United Way and the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association. That same year the clinic opens a clinic on the East Side of Bridgeport at 540 Pembroke Street with Roger Sherman as the project coordinator. The clinic later moved to 932 East Main Street two year later but had to be closed permanently in 1981 due to a fire. Jeanne O’Donnell, LCSW opens the Fairfield Clinic at 148 Beach Road at the First Congregational Church in 1978. The agency opened another satellite clinic in Stratford in 1980 at 150 Chapel Street which later moved to 2595 Main Street and then finally settling in at 80 Ferry Boulevard. After 18 years with the Child Guidance Center, Pat Bologna resigns and Dr. Philip Guzmán, assumes directorship of the agency and moves the Bridgeport clinic from 1081 Iranistan Avenue to 180 Fairfield Avenue in 2000. Currently the agency has 20 programs and services geared to serve children with mental health and substance abuse problems as well as providing supportive services to parents.

Goals and Objectives:

a. establish and maintain an outpatient mental and emotional health care facility for children between birth and 18 years of age, focusing on the Greater Bridgeport, Connecticut region,
b. recruit and employ a multi-disciplinary professional and paraprofessional staff as well as all appropriate mental health, social service, community service and support personnel as may be necessary;
c. provide appropriate psychological, emotional, educational, social and behavioral health care treatment services to children and their families;
d. develop and maintain programs of professional training, education, research, and such other programs as that will contribute to the greatest development of Child Guidance Center, through its services and its personnel.
e. advocate for children’s behavioral health issues and concerns at the local, state and national levels. Such advocacy shall include, but not be limited to:
i. raising the level of awareness of the community regarding the mental, behavioral and emotional health care needs of its children and families.
ii. increasing the dissemination of information to the community concerning emotional, mental and behavioral health issues of the community.
iii. providing current information to policy makers regarding the mental, emotional and health care needs of the children and families of the greater Bridgeport region.
f. identify ways to minimize cultural and linguistic barriers to behavioral health care services.
g. identify and obtain resources to develop a wide range of behavioral health care services for children and their families.
h. work for and promote the positive mental, behavioral and emotional health of the children in the community,
i. help prevent mental and emotional disorders in children and their families;
j. help raise the standards of care and treatment for those suffering from mental, emotional and/or behavioral health issues;
k. cooperate with Federal, State, and local agencies whose work is related to that of a Child Guidance Center; l. help prevent child abuse;