History

The first Family Outreach was opened in 1973 in Richardson, Texas, sponsored by the National Council of Jewish Women, Inc., Richardson/Plano Section. It was a joint project of community volunteers and the Texas Department of Human Services (TDHS). Research in the early 1960s had begun to show that volunteers could be trained to offer effective, supportive services to families “at risk” of abusing or neglecting their children. Meanwhile, TDHS was experiencing a lack of funds with which to serve these same “at risk” families. Consequently, the program was designed to fill that service gap. Although the idea of using lay people to deliver casework was unusual, the program proved to be successful, and soon was duplicated in several other urban areas across Texas.

In 1981, the idea of an “umbrella” organization for all the centers was conceived. Representatives from the existing centers began meeting to discuss the new organization – its purpose, structure, etc. The basic need for the organization was the have a legal entity that could license the name “Family Outreach” and thus, control the use of the name. According to federal trademark law, that control must be exercised by making sure that each group using the name operates in accordance with a set of Minimum Standards which were written by the Board. In 1982, Family Outreach of America, Inc. was incorporated. There are now 13 centers that operate in Texas with additional centers planned.