The history of The Up Center can be traced back to 1883 when economic hardships led to the creation of Norfolk United Charities. This agency aimed to provide financial assistance and reduce homelessness and poverty. It had three organizations that worked to achieve its goals: the Family Welfare Association, the United Colored Charities and the Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

The third organization for children laid the groundwork for what would become a long record of helping our youth, a tradition which continues today. Other programs though came and went as the changing times warranted.

In the early 1900’s the agency focused on the needs of abandoned women with children. Concerns about them led to the establishment of the Traveler’s Aid Society, which protected traveling women and girls. World War II though would bring about changes to the mission of the society. At that time, it needed to address the concerns of the servicemen and dependents stationed in Hampton Roads. This work took center stage until the end of the war when a merger created a new agency in Norfolk, called Family Services of Tidewater. This agency brought together the United Colored Charities of Norfolk, the Family Welfare Association and the Children’s Bureau.

More than ten years later in 1959, Child and Family Services of Portsmouth was formed. It was created by combining other social service groups, including the Ministerial and Mental Health Association.

In the 1960’s, the mental health experts in this agency were able to provide crisis intervention with families experiencing difficulties. This laid the groundwork for similar programs The Up Center runs today. The agency also added adoption services, completing nearly 200 adoptions.
In the 1970’s the adoption program was temporarily eliminated. Parenting classes were added to help mothers, who were now keeping their babies. Years later in the 1990’s, foster care was added and then later consumer credit counseling was offered. In more recent years, adoption services have been revived as part of our foster care program.

In 2004, a landmark merger brought Family Services of Tidewater (organized in 1883) and Child & Family Services (founded in 1959) together to form Child & Family Services of Eastern Virginia. Four years later, in 2008, we changed our name to The Up Center.
Today we continue the work of our ancestors by responding to the needs of our community’s most vulnerable children, families and individuals. Through our commitment to results and integrity, every year we give a hand up to 10,000 people in Eastern Virginia, unlocking the promise of our community.