Our History
Since 1982, the Family Center has coached families to succeed. As a not-for-profit human service and community outreach agency, we provide family therapy services and family support programs to families in Somerville, Cambridge and other Greater Boston communities, as well as training and consultation to social service agencies and schools throughout New England and New York.
Picture of The Family Center. Located at 366 Somerville Avenue in Somerville, MA.
Our History - The Place We Call Home
1982 Our first home was a van parked outside the Roosevelt Towers housing project in Cambridge from which Family Center founder, Anne Peretz, first offered our services. From the outset, Anne recognized that families struggling with poverty, violence, and racism needed both practical and therapeutic support to help them assert their strengths and advocate for themselves.
1983-2002 For 19 years, we counseled, supported and celebrated our clients within two Victorian houses in Davis Square, Somerville. It was here that we perfected our trademark blend of therapeutic and family support programs, launched our training initiatives, and developed an abiding commitment to the Somerville community.
2002 - present In 2002, we renovated a building in Union Square, Somerville, to create a true family center. Our new home provides safe, secure, and light-filled meeting rooms, play spaces, and a resource center. A suite of three therapy rooms with two-way mirrors support training; a community meeting room available for use by the community; and office space leased to complimentary service agencies all help to bring the community to our clients. For the first time, we have a home that is large enough to hold our dreams.