View Document |
printer-friendly version |
Rocky Mountain Online ArchiveTable of Contents
Appendix C: A Brief History of Welfare and Social Services in the Pikes Peak Region |
Inventory of the Pikes Peak Family Counseling and Mental Health Center, Records, 1886-1992Pikes Peak Library District, Special Collections in the 1905 Carnegie LibraryEmail: http://library.ppld.org/SpecialCollections/SpecialCollectionsContact.aspURL: http://library.ppld.org/SpecialCollections/default.asp ©2005 Pikes Peak Library District
HistoryADMINISTRATIVE CHRONOLOGY:
· 1884 Colorado Springs Relief Society reorganized · 1887 Colorado Springs Relief Society name changed to Women's Aid Society · 1890 Women's Aid Society became Colorado Springs Aid Society · 1891 Colorado Springs Kindergarten Association formed · 1896 Colorado Springs Kindergarten Association discontinued · 1899 Colorado Springs Aid Society reorganized and expanded, becoming Associated Charities of Colorado Springs · 1908 Associated Charities of Colorado Springs incorporated · 1928 Child Guidance Clinic opened (funded by Bemis-Taylor Foundation) · 1938 Child Guidance Clinic became publicly funded · 1939 Bemis-Taylor Clinic became Colorado Springs Child Guidance Clinic, a non-profit corporation · 1942-1944 Child Guidance Clinic run on part-time basis · June 1944 Child Guidance Clinic discontinued · 1945 Child Guidance Clinic reopened, incorporated · 1946 Child Guidance Clinic moved to Red Cross Chapter House · 1946 Associated Charities became Family Service of Colorado Springs, changed focus to counseling · 1964 Child Guidance Clinic expanded to include adults, became Pikes Peak Mental Health Clinic · 1970 Family Service of Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak Mental Health Clinic combined to form Pikes Peak Family Counseling and Mental Health Center ArrangementRecords have been divided into two record groups, Associated Charities and Child Guidance, and then into subgroups by organization and series by record type.
Subgroup 1: Women's Aid Society Subgroup 2: Colorado Springs Aid Society Subgroup 3: Associated Charities Subgroup 4: Family Services / Family Counseling Service Subgroup 5: Other Organizations
Subgroup 1: Child Guidance Clinic Subgroup 2: Pikes Peak Mental Health Center Subgroup 3: Pikes Peak Family Counseling and Mental Health Center Scope and ContentRecords from the Associated Charities and its earlier incarnations make up the bulk of the material. These papers include much primary material: casebooks from 1887-1900, with names, situations and dispositions of the people asking for aid; some correspondence, mostly from 1911-1930s, between the Colorado Springs welfare group and similar organizations in Denver, discussing cases, policies, etc. There are also scattered issues of annual reports of the Associated Charities from 1899 to 1920, as well as secretary's books (which include by-laws, minutes of board meetings, members, etc.) from several of the earlier organizations, ca. 1887-1899. Later papers include annual reports, newspaper clippings and manuals from the Family Services (later, Family Counseling Services) The remainder of the collection consists of papers from the Child Guidance Clinic, and some additional material from the merger of the two organizations to become the Pikes Peak Family Counseling and Mental Health Center (PPFCMHC) in 1970. The majority of the Child Guidance papers are from the 1950s and 1960s, and consist mostly of board minutes, statistical reports, and treasurer's reports. Some correspondence and a general history of the organization as of 1950 are also included. PPFCMHC material added in January 1994 include a scrapbook and miscellaneous newspaper clippings ca. 1969-1992, some minutes and notes on planning, statistics, and public relations, various histories of the organization, and the consolidation agreement between the Family Counseling Service and Pikes Peak Mental Health Center in 1970. RestrictionsAccess RestrictionsThe collection is open for research. Copy RestrictionsThe researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection. Preferred CitationPikes Peak Family Counseling and Mental Health Center, Records, Special Collections in the 1905 Carnegie Library, Pikes Peak Library District. Processing InformationThis collection was arranged, and the finding aid written, by Nancy Thaler. Finding aid was reformatted in 2002. Separated MaterialThere are no separated materials. Related Archival MaterialThere are no related materials. Subject HeadingsAssociated Charities - Colorado Springs Charities - Colorado - Colorado Springs Child Guidance Clinic - Colorado Springs Colorado Springs Aid Society Family Counseling Services - Colorado Springs Pikes Peak Family Counseling and Mental Health Center Pikes Peak Mental Health Center Public Welfare - Colorado - Colorado Springs Women's Aid Society - Colorado Springs Box and Folder List
Appendix A: Material in Child Guidance papers relating to Associated Charities and all its various incarnations· Women's Aid Society (1887-1890) · Secretary's book, 1887-1890 · Account book, 1886-1890 · Misc. correspondence, treasurer's reports, membership lists, receipts, leases, etc., ca. 1888-1890 · Colorado Springs Aid Society (1890-1899) · Secretary's book, 1890 · Casebook, 1890-1893 · Casebook, 1893-1899 · Loose pages, cases, ca. 1893-1894 · Misc. correspondence etc., ca. 1893-1895 (mixed in with earlier material; see Women's Aid Society) · Associated Charities (1899-1946) · Account book (with some cases), 1899-1900 · Casebook, 1899-1900 · Annual reports, 1899-1920 (7 missing), 1943, 1944 · Statistical reports, 1916-1918, 1919-1920 · Annual budgets (to Community Chest), 1930-1946 · Monthly reports to Board of Trustees, 1899-1901 (some missing) · Statistics reports 1927-1938, 1935,1936, 1941-1943 · Financial statistics, 1907, 1927-1939, 1940 · Subscription lists: To Associated Charities, 1928-1936; To Sunnyrest Sanatorium, 1932-1934; To DAV & American Red Cross, 1932-1933 · Correspondence re cases, etc., ca. 1911-1945 · Family Services of Colorado Springs (1946-1970) · Misc. brochures, some correspondence, etc., mostly ca. 1950s · Scrapbook, ca. 1944-1950 · Family Service of Colorado Springs · Notebook, Board Member Manual · Colorado Springs Kindergarten Association (1891-1896) · Secretary's book, 1891-1896 ·NOTE: Secretary's books usually contain constitution & by-laws, minutes of board meeting, membership lists, financial information, etc Appendix B: Material in Child Guidance papers relating to Bemis-Taylor Child Guidance Clinic in all its incarnationsNotebook: Child Guidance Board, ca. 1958-1962 (includes board minutes, monthly statistics, memos, correspondence, budgets and notes, etc.) Notebook (secretary's book?), ca. 1951-1953 (includes board minutes, committee minutes, monthly statistics, correspondence, donations, by-laws, memos, etc.) Folder, History of Pikes Peak Family Counseling and Mental Health Center (PPFCMHC) (includes clippings, some brochures) 2 folders, Minutes of Board Meetings, 1964-1965 (includes monthly statistics, correspondence and financial statements) Folder: Finances--Clinic, 1957-1964 Folder: Board Minutes, 1957-1963 Folder: Board Reports, 1957-1963 Folder: Miscellaneous papers (treasurer's reports, budgets, annual reports, clippings, histories, statements, statistics, etc.), ca. 1953-1959 Appendix C: A Brief History of Welfare and Social Services in the Pikes Peak Region By Nancy Thaler
Private, city, county, state and federal monies have all been used at various times to fund the many organizations designed to help the needy citizens. In the history of public aid in Colorado Springs, individuals and local organizations were the first to help. Churches assisted their own members freely, and often extended helping hands to other denominations, but it wasn't until 1875 that an organized effort began to help the many needy people in this otherwise-affluent town. In 1875, a group of leading citizens formed an organization they called the Colorado Springs Relief Society. It was designed to help the "poor and sickly". In 1887, the name changed to the Women's Aid Society, and in 1890, to the Colorado Springs Aid Society. This group, working together with other organizations, such as the Salvation Army, gave clothing, food and fuel to people their agents determined were "worthy": that is, hard working, industrious, but unable to care for themselves and their families due to circumstances such as illness or unemployment. Case workers visited applicants and interviewed friends and neighbors to determine the character of the applicant before reaching a decision. By 1899, the number of needy had increased drastically in the city, many of them newcomers who had come to Colorado in search of health, and were unable to work. The Society aided many, but also provided return tickets to the person's official city of residence in the hopes that they would take responsibility for their own citizens instead of placing the burden for their care on Colorado Springs. Many people travelled from town to town, applying for aid in each place, and so, in order to avoid what they considered a duplication of services (and to prevent anyone from getting more than they "deserved"), several of the charitable organizations in Colorado Springs merged, and became known as the Associated Charities of Colorado Springs. The published idea was that the businessmen could make one charitable contribution, rather than being approached by any number of organizations for the same purpose. Later, Associated Charities affiliated with the Family Welfare Association of America, which in June of 1946, changed its name to the Family Service Association of America. In 1946, Associated Charities, in keeping with its parent organization, became known as Family Service of Colorado Springs. National and international aid organizations were in evidence, although not always appreciated. The Salvation Army, which had been originally founded in London in 1865, and was in Colorado Springs by the 1880s, was not looked upon favorably by the police, who constantly cited or arrested their members for "parading" and disturbing the peace. The American Red Cross, founded in 1881 by Clara Barton, did not have a local chapter until 1914, when it was organized for war relief. In the meanwhile, both the state of Colorado and El Paso County were accepting responsibility for many of the destitute, ill and elderly. An Orphan's Home was begun, although, after an effort to have the state take over the financing failed, the home closed; and a County Home and County Hospital for the indigent ill was built and maintained. Schools were established for the deaf and blind, industrial schools for girls and boys were begun, and ways to protect women and children were devised and funded by the state and counties. A State Board of Charities and Corrections was established in 1891, with the power to investigate the whole system of public charities and correctional institutions and examine the conditions in all publicly-funded institutions, including reformatories and orphanages. A Workmen's Compensation Act was first passed in Colorado in 1915, with many later revisions. After the turn of the century, government began playing a larger role in relief efforts. Legislation was passed for child protection, compensation for mothers with dependent children so that families could be kept together, and aid for the blind. It wasn't until 1935, however, with the passage of the Social Security Act, that the federal government became actively involved in public assistance at the state level. With this act, states were required to set up welfare divisions which would be federally approved and partially funded. In Colorado, Chapter 186 of the Session Laws of 1935 established the Official Colorado State Relief Committee, whose charge was "preserving the peace, health and safety of the people of the State; promoting the orderly, intelligent and economical care and relief of the poor and destitute unemployed, and unemployable persons, of this State;" as well as cooperating with Federal agencies and mandates and supervising city and county assistance. In 1936, Colorado passed several acts for public welfare. The Old Age Assistance Act, the Aid to the Blind Act, and the Aid to Dependent Children Act all continued work begun earlier and now mandated by the Federal Government. The most important act passed at the second extraordinary session of the Colorado Legislature in 1936 was the Welfare Organization Act, which, among other things, created the State Board of Public Welfare, continuing all the duties of the Official Colorado State Relief Committee. The State Board became the State Department for Public Welfare, and was to allocate funds to counties based on their needs, while the County Departments of Public Welfare were charged with "the administration of all forms of public assistance in the county, including home relief, indoor and outdoor care for those in need, aid to dependent children, old age assistance, aid to the blind, the care and treatment of dependent and handicapped children, and such other welfare activities as may be delegated to it by the State Department of Public Welfare and approved by the County Board." In Colorado Springs, meanwhile, private organizations continued their assistance programs. Organizations such as the YMCA and YWCA and the Boys Club, patriotic societies such as the GAR and the American Legion, lodges and fraternal organizations such as the Elks and the Masons, and churches and church-related groups all had programs or committees to help the needy. During the depression, groups such as the Ellen Brinley Guild helped poor families on the eastern plains of Colorado, providing Christmas baskets, clothing, and food for schoolchildren. Later, many of these organizations turned to war relief. With the new federal aid to the dependent, the Family Service Association of America began encouraging its affiliated agencies to move from financial assistance to counseling people with personal and family problems. By 1946, when Associated Charities changed its name to Family Service and decided to concentrate on counseling, it took some time for the community to accept the new program, even though there were other programs for counseling already in the Springs. Alice Bemis Taylor, daughter of a prominent pioneer family in Colorado Springs and wife of a wealthy businessman, devoted a good deal of her time and money to helping the community. Among projects she helped fund were the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, the Colorado Springs Day Nursery, and the Bemis-Taylor Foundation, which housed the Child Guidance Clinic. Mrs. Taylor had become interested in a Child Guidance Clinic as early as 1923. After many years of discussions and inquiries, the Bemis-Taylor Foundation Child Guidance Clinic opened January 15, 1928, the only full-time psychiatric clinic for children in any city of less than 100,000 population. Mrs. Taylor established the Bemis-Taylor Foundation in December 1927, which was to fund the Child Guidance Clinic until 1939. After that time, Mrs. Taylor felt it was the responsibility of the community to continue the Clinic. On October 1, 1938, a special meeting of the Bemis-Taylor Foundation relinquished all equipment and records to the Colorado Springs Child Guidance Clinic. Funding at that point came from Colorado College, School District 11, the City of Colorado Springs, and the Community Chest. Later, El Paso County began to give financial assistance, and the Community Chest funds were withdrawn. Mrs. Taylor agreed to contribute up to $5000 annually for the next two years to make up for any deficit. During the war, staff for civilian clinics was not readily available. The Clinic was left with only a part-time psychologist from 1942-1944, with its office furniture and equipment in storage to provide more space for the Day Nursery. In June, 1944, even this part-time service was discontinued and the Clinic considered defunct. However, with the continued assistance of several of the board members, a temporary clinic was arranged in May 1945, with a psychiatrist, social worker, psychologist and secretary. This clinic functioned in temporary offices in the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity House for a year, and was incorporated on August 31, 1945. In July 1946, the offices were moved to the Red Cross Chapter House, and a permanent director and psychiatrist was hired. In 1964, the Child Guidance Clinic expanded its scope to include treatment of adults, and was renamed the Pikes Peak Mental Health Center. In 1970, the Pikes Peak Mental Health Center combined with the Family Counseling Service of Colorado Springs to form the Pikes Peak Family Counseling and Mental Health Center.
1875 Colorado Springs Relief Society formed 1880 El Paso County Commissioners bought cottage to be used for County Home/ County Hospital 1881 Society to establish a home for orphans established in Colorado Springs 1881 Industrial School for Boys established by State authorities 1882 Large house rented for Orphans Home in Colorado Springs 1883 Bill introduced to make State take over Orphans Home as a state institution; bill failed 1883 Orphans Home closed 1884 Colorado Springs Relief Society reorganized 1886 County Home enlarged 1887 Colorado Springs Relief Society name changed to Women's Aid Society 1888 El Paso County Humane Society organized (to protect animals, women and children) 1888 Eleanor Home, first institution to care for indigent tubercular invalids, opened in Colorado Springs 1890 Sanatorium for Eleanor Home, known as Bellevue, opened in Colorado Springs 1890 Women's Aid Society became Colorado Springs Aid Society 1891 Colorado Springs Kindergarten Association formed 1891 State Board of Charities and Corrections established 1894 Bellevue Sanatorium closed 1895 State Home for Dependent Children authorized by State authorities 1896 Colorado Springs Kindergarten Association discontinued 1899 Colorado Springs Aid Society reorganized and expanded, becoming Associated Charities of Colorado Springs 1899 County Commissioners bought Liebig Ranch (south of Bear Creek) as County Home 1900 County Home burned to the ground; new building was built 1902 Site purchased for State Home for Dependent Children by State of Colorado 1911 Plans announced for the Myron Stratton Home in Colorado Springs 1911 Sunny Rest Sanatorium opened in Colorado Springs, initiated by the Board of Associated Charities 1913 Mother's Compensation Act passed 1914 American Red Cross chapter organized in Colorado Springs 1915 Colorado passed Workmen's Compensation Act 1918 Blind Benefit Commission established by State 1919 Tuberculosis Free Clinic opened in Colorado Springs, under the auspices of the Colorado Public Health Association 1919 Child Welfare Bureau created within State government 1920 New building for Sunny Rest Sanatorium opened 1921 Child Welfare Bureau organized by Gov. Shoup 1922 Pikes Peak Welfare Fund began 1923 Department of Charities and Corrections created out of State Board 1924 Pikes Peak Welfare Fund name changed to Community Chest of the Pikes Peak region 1925 State Commission for the Blind established 1926 Half Way House opened an occupational therapy workshop in Colorado Springs 1928 Bemis-Taylor Foundation opened its Child Guidance Clinic in Colorado Springs 1929 Mrs. William H. Evans donated building for the Half Way House 1933 Legislation passed that provided for Division of Public Welfare within State government 1935 Social Security Act passed 1935 Official Colorado State Relief Committee established 1936 Colorado legislature passed the Welfare Organization Act of 1936, Old Age Assistance Act, Aid to the Blind Act and Aid to Dependent Children Act 1936 Welfare Organization Act created State Board of Public Welfare to succeed Official Colorado State Relief Committee and provided that the Board of County Commissioners of each county would be the Board of Public Welfare for that county 1936 Child Welfare Bureau name changed to Bureau of Home and School Service 1936 State Department of Public Welfare established, together with Division of Public Assistance 1938 Bemis-Taylor Child Guidance Clinic became community-sponsored 1939 Bemis-Taylor Child Guidance Clinic became Colorado Springs Child Guidance Clinic, a non-profit corporation 1946 Associated Charities became Family Service of Colorado Springs, changed focus to counseling 1946 Social Security Administration replaced Social Security Board 1953 Social Security Administration became part of the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare 1964 Child Guidance Clinic expanded to include adults, became Pikes Peak Mental Health Clinic 1965 Medicare and Medicaid introduced 1970 Family Service of Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak Mental Health Clinic combined to form Pikes Peak Family Counseling and Mental Health Center 1974 Supplemental Security Insurance introduced 1979 Department of Health, Education and Welfare reorganized as Department of Health and Human Services |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
