Follow Us
Twitter Facebook-f Instagram Youtube Linkedin-in
DONATE
Get Help!

History

Our story begins over a century ago when a group of women – who were dedicated to providing a safe home and hope for a good future to orphans and destitute women with children – founded what became known as All Church Home for Children. Today, that organization is called ACH Child and Family Services. While our programs and services have changed to meet the needs of our community, we remain true to our mission of protecting children and preserving families. We invite you to enjoy our story and join us as we continue our efforts to elevate children and families in need of help in our community for decades to come.

1907
Home Mission Societies
The Home Mission Societies of the Methodist churches of Fort Worth and suburbs meet to form an organization with the object being to bring about a closer fellowship, cooperation and better understanding between the Methodist churches of the district.
1907
1912
Methodist Union
The Methodist Union resolves to invite all the missionary societies of the city to meet with them for the exchange of plans and discussion. Letters are sent to about 50 area churches. A committee is appointed to draft a new constitution and bylaws. The organization is called the Church Women’s Federation. On the first Thursday in October, fifteen Methodist churches answer the roll call and welcome delegates from Hemphill Presbyterian, College Avenue Baptist and Broadway Baptist, and First Christian and Magnolia Avenue Christian.
1912
1913-1915
The Church Women’s Federation adopts the Women’s Cooperative Home as its special work.
The Church Women’s Federation pays $50.00 a month for Traveler’s Aid at the T&P Station. They discontinue this service because the YWCA is known for providing this service. As the Church Women’s Federation is such a new organization, they vote to sponsor something they can call their own.
1913-1915
1915
The Women's Cooperative Home is chartered in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Home is located at First and Taylor streets and is established to provide care for destitute women and children. In August, a constitution and bylaws are adopted for the Women’s Cooperative Home. “The object of the Home is to provide a Cooperative Christian Home for working girls and women, with or without children.” In September, the old John S. Andrews Home, at 1st and Taylor Streets, is rented. “The house was a perfect wreck, having no roof, nothing but the walls were intact, so the business of repairing it was no small task, but this Mr. Woodruff accomplished it, soliciting from Lumber Yards, Paint Shops, Painter’s Union, Painters and Carpenters to do the work, so that it was ready to furnish sometime in November.”
1915
1916
A Matron is selected to live in the Home.
“She organized a Mutual Benefit Club among the girls which did good work. It met once a week, had a nice program, very small dues, which were used in many helpful ways – for curtains, paint for woodwork, paid $3.00 a week on a piano, $5.00 on a Liberty Bond. There were as few rules as possible and there was seldom any trouble with or among the members.” The Finance Committee reports that the Home's income is $50.60 a month, while the expenses are $235.00 a month, leaving a significant deficit each month. In August, a constitution and bylaws are adopted for the Women’s Cooperative Home. “The object of the Home is to provide a Cooperative Christian Home for working girls and women, with or without children.” In September, the old John S. Andrews Home, at 1st and Taylor Streets, is rented. “The house was a perfect wreck, having no roof, nothing but the walls were intact, so the business of repairing it was no small task, but this Mr. Woodruff accomplished it, soliciting from Lumber Yards, Paint Shops, Painter’s Union, Painters and Carpenters to do the work, so that it was ready to furnish sometime in November.”
1916
1918
The Women's Cooperative Home is chartered in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Home is located at First and Taylor streets and is established to provide care for destitute women and children. 1918 The Home moves to 410 West 2nd Street and serves additional women and children who have relatives living in training at Camp Bowie in Fort Worth. The Home has a wonderful opportunity to serve women and children because of World War I. The Home receives many applications from women who come to Fort Worth because of relatives who are in training at Camp Bowie. The Home is always crowded to capacity. Financially, the Home struggles greatly, as there is no Community Chest, or any regular fund for help. All kinds of ways are used to supplement the voluntary contributions, including a speech by Helen Keller and “Tag Days” pencil sales.
1918
1922
Home moves to third location.
Seven years after its first opening, the Home moves to its third location at the corner of Pecan and Bluff streets in Fort Worth.
1922
1927
A Benefit Tea is held to raise funds for the Home.
These organized fund raising activities are later known as Silver Teas and are held twice a year – one before Easter and one before Thanksgiving
1927
1928
The name of the Home is changed from Women’s Cooperative Home to All Church Home for Children.
The Board passes the recommendation that “one wing in the Home be set aside to be used for mothers with small children. The rest of the Home is to be converted into an orphanage for helpless children, who are alone in the world.”
1928
1929
No Sickness
In January, it is reported that “no sickness among the children the entire winter, but we have used about a gallon of caster oil.”
1929
1931
The Home has a “dire need” for basic necessities, as women and children are coming in daily with not even a change of clothing.
The Lions Club begins its annual Christmas party, giving each child a small gift and 50 cents spending money. During this year, a total of 105 children and 25 women live in the Home. The cost to provide care to each child is 50 cents a day or $15.00 a month.
1931
1936
All Church Home for Children moves to the Samuel Burk Burnett mansion at 1424 Summit Avenue.
One Sunday afternoon, fire is discovered in the third floor and the Home is so badly damaged that another home has to be found. A meeting of the Board is called the next morning that results in a search for a “fire-proof building.”
1936
1937-1940
A Board member has many friends who have gardens and they let her bring the children to pick vegetables, fruit and berries.
“I have taken 8 or 10 girls at daylight, picked three bushels of black-eyed peas, come home, all pitched in and shelled them and canned what we did not eat. We did the same with berries and peaches, sometimes I took girls and sometimes boys.” During the summer months, the staff and children can over 3,000 containers of fruit and vegetables.
1937-1940
1929
Fat Stock Show
One of the regular annual events for the children that is looked forward to with much joy, is the Fat Stock Show to which the management always give tickets, and the Natatorium Laundry furnishes transportation and gives each child 25 cents. In 1939, 128 children are cared for in the Home.
1929
1941
Mistletoe
There is so much mistletoe on the trees at the Home, it is voted that the boys be permitted to gather and sell it, and divide the money among themselves.
1941
1942
American-born German children
During the war, the government pays for four, American-born German children to stay at the Home when their parents are deported to Germany.
1942
1945
The children hold their own Christmas Tree at the Home on Christmas Eve.
“It was quite a tribute to the Home that several of the older children who had been invited to private homes for Christmas festivities elected to remain at 1424 Summit for Christmas.” The average number of children living in the Home is 54.
1945
1946
Twins
The Home is home to two sets of twins. The average number of children living in the Home is 54.
1946
1954-1963
Innovative thinking, a desire to best serve children, and strong support from the community lead to a change in program philosophy and expansion of services.
Rather than housing all the children under one roof, the Home expands into four, more family-like residential group homes, each designed to house a smaller group of children. The four buildings are named Judge and Mrs. James C. Wilson Building, Mrs. B.S. (Alice) Walker Building, J. Garland Tillar Building and Eusebia S. Stonestreet Building.
1954-1963
1962
The children hold their own Christmas Tree at the Home on Christmas Eve.
The Women’s Auxiliary for All Church Home for Children is formed, giving young women the opportunity to volunteer and provide support for the children in care. The Auxiliary continues to work diligently on behalf of All Church Home for the next 40 years and is instrumental in developing many future leaders for the organization.
1962
1971
The Annie Richardson Bass Library is built to provide space for educational support, offices and meetings.
The building provides space for study hall, arts and crafts, meetings and recreational activities.
1971
1982
House Parents
To better address the changing needs of youth and families, support services are developed including case management, therapy and psychiatric support. All Church Home begins to hire married couples as house parents, rather than Matrons or house mothers, to care for the children.
1982
1987
Boys Ranch
All Church Home opens a Boys Ranch near Stephenville, Texas. The ranch is made possible through a special lease agreement with the Texas Youth Development Corporation.
1987
1988
Annie Richardson Bass Library
The Annie Richardson Bass Library is expanded into a Family Education Center. In addition to providing space for therapy, education and training, the stunning building quickly becomes a favorite meeting place for local organizations.
1988
1992
Jonathan Y. Ballard Group Home
The Jonathan Y. Ballard Group Home is opened in the Wedgwood area of Fort Worth. The home provides a family-like and neighborhood atmosphere for eight girls.
1992
1994
Families
All Church Home begins to focus on working with families.
1994
1999
Wrigley Way foster home
The Wrigley Way foster home is established to expand ACH's presence in the Wedgwood area of Fort Worth. The Behavioral Group Care Program is started to serve the unmet needs of children unable to live with their families due to moderate to severe behavior problems.
1999
2000
New Programs
To more effectively meet the needs of children, youth and families, In-Home Services, Campus Respite Care, Foster Care and After-Care programs are developed. In-Home Services bring intervention into the homes of families in an effort to prevent placement. Campus Respite Services provide short-term placement. The Foster Care Program provides safe and nurturing homes for children while they are either temporarily or permanently unable to live with their own families. After-Care Services help families to be more successful after placement is complete.
2000
2001
The Temporary Loving Care collaboration project is started to develop respite capacity for area foster parents.
The Board of Directors authorizes a facilities' analysis to determine if client needs could be met with our current program facilities. All Church Home hires its first marketing and development Director.
2001
2003
ACH becomes nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation.
The Youth Care Professionals Training Institute is created, using ACH’s extensive experience in child and family services to develop excellence in the treatment and care of children and youth. The Board of Directors authorizes a $4.7 million capital campaign to relocate the children of the Residential Group Care Program from the now urban environment of the Summit Campus to a more family-like and neighborhood setting on the Wedgwood Campus. Some renovations to the Summit Campus are also included in the scope of this project. The Boys Ranch near Stephenville, Texas is transitioned into a foster home.
2003
2004
The Building Hope Campaign is launched.
In-Home Respite Care is developed to offer relief to caregivers of children with mental health challenges and to provide temporary supervision of the children in their own home. The Families Together Program is started as a transitional living program that serves homeless single-parent families. This program operates out of the Jonathan Y. Ballard Group Home on the Wedgwood Campus.
2004
2005
Families Together Program is moved to the Garland J. Tillar Building on the Summit Campus.
In order to serve more clients, the Families Together Program is moved to the Garland J. Tillar Building on the Summit Campus. The boards of both the All Church Home for Children and the Bridge Youth and Family Services vote to combine operations under the All Church Home for Children, Inc. The first of three new family homes on the Wedgwood Campus is built and opened. The Amon G. Carter Family Home receives its first children on September 8, 2005. Family Group Conferencing, a program designed to facilitate positive and lasting solutions between Child Protective Services and families involved with the system, begins. ACH is accredited through 2008 by Praesidium Abuse Risk. To honor ACH’s 90th year of service to children and families, friends of ACH host events featuring the American Family Drawings, an exhibition.
2005
2006
Building Hope Campaign
Sufficient funding in the Building Hope Campaign is obtained to begin the site work on the Wedgwood Campus in preparation for the construction of the Crystelle Waggoner Family Center, the Jack B. and Linda Morris Family Home, and the M.S. and Meek Lane Doss Family Home. The Emergency Youth Shelter, the Bridge, is relocated from the Broadway Campus to the Summit Campus (pictured here). The Jack B. and Linda Morris Family Home and the M.S. and Meek Lane Doss Family Home are completed and opened. Carson Field, the children’s baseball field on the Wedgwood Campus, is unveiled and dedicated to Dr. Wayne K. Carson.
2006
2007
ACH is reaccredited through 2010 by the Council on Accreditation.
ACH becomes a United Way of Tarrant County community partner and receives funding to support its emergency shelter services for youth. The Crystelle Waggoner Family Center is completed and opened on the Wedgwood Campus. The playground and park area of the Wedgwood Campus is completed and opened. The ACH Board of Directors unanimously approves new mission and vision statements for the organization.
2007
2008
Valerie and Michael Mallick donate 19.5 acres and nine buildings to ACH.
ACH is licensed to provide adoption services to children in the custody of Child Protective Services (CPS). The Dub and Valerie Stocker Home, previously known as the Wrigley Way Family Home, is renovated and opened as a transitional living program for teenagers. The Foster Care and Adoption Department completes its first adoption. The groundbreaking ceremony is held for the Wichita Street Campus Project.
2008
2009
The Home Improvements Capital Campaign is launched.
ACH begins work to establish a Family Support Center (FSC) in Arlington, Texas. The Foster Care and Adoption Department expands to include four staff members, 22 foster homes and 50 children formerly affiliated with the Lena Pope Home. ACH receives Family Based Safety Services (FBSS) Contract Expansion Award. The LIFE Project (Learning Independence from Experience), a housing program for homeless young adults ages 18-21, is opened. ACH launches its first social business venture, Belltower Chapel & Garden, with the goals of employing foster youth and generating a profit for ACH.
2009
2010
New Name: ACH Child and Family Services.
All Church Home for Children begins a new era of service with the debut of its new agency name: ACH Child and Family Services. Community Services staff members are relocated from the Broadway Campus to the Wichita Street Campus. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is held to commemorate the completion of the Program Services Building, one of the first of the Wichita Street Campus renovations. Belltower Chapel & Garden holds its first weddings and receptions.
2010
2011
ACH is again reaccredited by the Council on Accreditation.
The chapel on the Wichita Street Campus is named the Julie and Glenn Davidson Family Chapel and is the site of ACH's wedding and reception business, Belltower Chapel & Garden. The Paul E. Andrews Family Welcome Center is completed and opened. Foster Care and Adoption staff members are relocated from the Summit Campus to the Wichita Street Campus. A dedication ceremony is held for the Julie and Glenn Davidson Family Chapel.
2011
2012
Dedication of Mallick Family Administration Building
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is held to commemorate the dedication and opening of the Mallick Family Administration Building. The Chief Executive Officer, Business Operations, Evaluation and Accreditation, and Finance staff are relocated from the Summit Campus to the Wichita Street Campus. A dedication ceremony and housewarming are held to commemorate the opening of the Rees-Jones Family Residential Building. The Families Together Program staff and clients are relocated from the Summit Campus to the Wichita Street Campus. The Foster Care and Adoption Department completes its 75th adoption. The Board of Directors honors Dr. Wayne K. Carson for his 25 years of service to ACH. The preschool play area on the Wichita Street Campus is named in his honor.
2012
2013
Completion of the Wichita Street Campus
ACH celebrates the completion of the Wichita Street Campus renovations with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the dedication and opening of Chesapeake Energy Park and play areas in the heart of the new campus. The Foster Care and Adoption Department completes its 100th adoption. ACH signs a contract with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to be the Single Source Continuum Contractor for Region 3b Catchment Area (Tarrant, Palo Pinto, Parker, Johnson, Hood, Somervell, and Erath counties). As part of a statewide foster care redesign effort, ACH was the second organization to be selected as a Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC) by the Texas Department of Family Protective Services.
2013
2014
Our Community Our Kids
ACH launches a Foster Care Redesign initiative with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Our Community Our Kids, a division of ACH Child and Family Services, manages the contract and oversees the foster care provider network.
2014
2015
Centennial
ACH celebrates its 100th year of protecting children and preserving families. ACH is reaccredited by the Council on Accreditation.
2015
2016
Selling of Summit Campus
After the relocation of all programs, the ACH Summit Campus is sold. The Virginia and Meto Miteff Family Home is completed.
2016
2017
Senate Bill 11 Passes
Primarily for the role OCOK played in Foster Care Redesign, helping to pass Senate Bill 11 and making Community-Based Care a reality for the entire state, ACH wins the CNM (Center for Nonprofit Management) Nonprofit of the Year Award. A grant from the Rees-Jones Foundation, the largest grant in ACH history, will be used to help fund a breakthrough project, Innovations in Foster Care: A Plan for Transformation. ACH celebrates foster families with the first Super Hero Family Fun Fest in May.
2017
2018
The Jo and Holt Hickman Center
Renovation of the nearly 100-year old dining hall is completed and named The Jo and Holt Hickman Center and is home to The Rees-Jones Center for Excellence in Child Welfare, office space and conference rooms. Ford, the NFL, and the Dallas Cowboys donated vans and enhanced the Wedgwood Playground, promoting the donation in a 90-second nationally televised commercial during halftime of the Thanksgiving Cowboys game.
2018
2019
Residential Treatment Center
ACH opens an innovative Residential Treatment Center, the only one of its kind in Texas, to serve teenagers with more severe behavioral and mental health challenges. With a goal of less than one year, ACH will help these teens transition to successfully living with a family. Our Community Our Kids becomes the State’s first contractor to enter Stage II of Community-Based Care. Assuming conservator case management brings together both child and family service delivery in a new and innovative way.
2019
A grandmother walks with her grandson.
2021
Kinship Navigator
ACH was one of four organizations selected by the state to develop a program to connect kinship families (those caring for a relative’s child) to a network of resources and education. The positive outcomes resulted in making Kinship Navigator an official program.
2021
The ACH Jennings office will be home to Real Help for Real Life and Kinship Navigator.
2022
ACH Jennings Office
Real Help for Real Life, offering free youth and family counseling, and Kinship Connections, providing help for those caring for kin, move to a more convenient and more visible location at the corner of So. Jennings and W. Rosedale.
2022
ACH's Secure Assessment Facility serves youth ages 5-7 who are in the child welfare system.
2023
Secure Assessment Facility
The first of its kind in Texas, the Secure Assessment Facility opened and is specifically designed to help youth in the child welfare or mental health systems who are experiencing a crisis or a transition between placements.
2023
Contact us
ACH Child and Family Services
3712 Wichita Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76119
Get In Touch
Twitter Facebook-f Instagram Youtube Linkedin-in
Affiliate logos of ACH include Excellence In Giving, United Way of Tarrant County, TACFS, and Council on Accredidation.

Subscribe

Sign Up for Our E-Newsletter
ACH Child and Family Services recognizes that privacy is important. Therefore, we are committed to protecting the privacy and security of any visitor of our website. ACH Child and Family Services does not collect personal identifiable information (PII) when you visit our website unless you choose to provide that information. ACH Child and Family Services does not disclose, transfer, or sell your information unless we are required by law. To read our full notice of privacy practices, please click here.

© 2009 - 2022 ACH Child and Family Services

Get Immediate Help

Call 817.335.HOPE (4673)

OR

1.888.296.8099

Answered 24 hours a day

Not an emergency services phone number. Call 911 for medical emergencies.

Safe Place Locator
YOUTH EMERGENCY SHELTER

3712 Wichita St.
Fort Worth, TX 76119

TURNING POINT

817.909.1171

SUICIDE PREVENTION
REPORT CHILD ABUSE

In Texas: 1.800.252.5400
Nationwide: 1.800.4.A.CHILD

Under $25,000

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Test Link