History of the Griffith Centers for Children
The story about the Griffith Centers for Children began in 1927 when renowned Colorado educator, Miss Emily Griffith saw young men living on the streets of Denver. Her heart went out to these boys who, for many reasons, had no homes, who did not see a future for themselves and had already dropped out of school. Many were beginning to get into trouble with the law.
Emily began to take these boys into her home. Here rules were clear... "you must attend school and complete your education, you must maintain a job if you are old enough and you wil participate as a responsible member of this home and our community." Emily believed that every person had talents and could be a valued member of the neighborhood, but you had to work for what you wanted and could not become a burden to the system and those around you.
Emily's goal was to provide "a home for every boy who needed one."
With the support of the Denver business community and the Kiwanis Club of Denver enough money was raised for Emily to purchase #9 Pearl Street. It was here that the story truly began. Over the years hundreds of boys have passed through these halls. Those served in the early years were boys who needed firm guidance and avenues to become successful. With Emily‹s support and the business contacts in the metro Denver area many of these children learned a trade, went on to college and became long standing community members who have helped shaped our great City.
As the program grew so did the need for larger quarters.
A new facility was purchased near Cheeseman Park on Franklin Street. The needs of these boys began to change too. Drugs, gangs and alcohol were becoming more popular and leading to additional problems. The nation began to recognize child abuse and neglect as unacceptable problems within our families. Every day more children were being referred to treatment programs after enduring years of physical and emotional abuse.
In 1980 the facility moved to a new location in Larkspur, Colorado where blue skies, clean air and the peacefulness of a rural life became a healing place for troubled kids. Experiential, animal and wilderness therapies became a valued part of our traditional therapeutic curriculum. Special Education programs provided the on-campus academic services that these children required. In 1999 we opened another campus in the Pikes Peak region. Our treatment center in Colorado Springs has grown to include an independent living program (in 2001) and a day treatment program (2002). To solidify our commitment to this region and to expand the continuum of services we offer, we merged with Chins Up Youth and Family Services in 2002, an agency that has provided foster and adoptive care and community based services to kids and families in the Pikes Peak region for the last 28 years. In September of 2002, we opened our Western Campus located in Rifle, Colorado, with the establishment of an additional residential treatment facility.
The children in treatment today at the Griffith Centers for Children are entering our program more emotionally troubled than ever before. Today, 83 years later, we still continue to strive to instill Emily's values into these children. The Griffith Centers for Children teaches these children the skills to forgive and rebuild their lives with their families. We teach them how to love and trust again and to look forward to a better future. We allow them the opportunity to become a part of their communities as healthy, happy, productive individuals.