Our History
Children’s Institute, Inc. focuses on healing children harmed by abuse or neglect, helping families provide nurturing homes, and advancing innovative programs that contribute to the welfare of children nationwide. Though CII’s focus has shifted and deepened over the years, the organization’s commitment to serving those in need in the Los Angeles community has remained steadfast for more than a century.
Founded in 1906 by Minnie Barton, the city’s first female probation officer, the original organization (then named The Big Sister League) was designed to help troubled young women who found themselves adrift in Los Angeles. Minnie Barton established the Minnie Barton Home for these young women, and later, the Bide-A-Wee Home for unmarried pregnant women.
Changing social conditions in the 1960s and ‘70s meant that more young unmarried women were choosing to raise their children rather than opt for adoption. As a result, the League’s services were modified to meet the new need and the organization’s current center-based and community-based child-care programs were launched.
When the serious problem of child abuse and neglect became prominent in the 1970s; the League responded by offering preventive childcare and other services to at-risk children. The League’s name was changed in 1980 to Children’s Institute International (CII) to better describe this evolving mission. At that time, CII began receiving state funding to provide child abuse prevention, intervention and treatment services. The core elements of these programs—intensive psychotherapy, parent education groups, in-home parent aides, court evaluations and testimony—continue today.
Over the past decade, CII has expanded its scope and services, raising awareness of child abuse and neglect and implementing new model programs. In 2006, marking the organization’s 100th year, the name was changed to Children’s Institute, Inc. At that time, the agency committed to doubling the number of children and families reached and expanding its programs and facilities. To do so, CII launched the most ambitious project in its history, The Building New Hope capital campaign.
In spring 2011, the agency opened its third, all-inclusive facility made possible by many generous donations to our Building New Hope capital campaign. The Otis Booth Campus will provide a safe haven for more than 5,000 children and families who have been affected by family and community violence, abuse, neglect and other trauma. The campus is named for the Otis Booth Foundation, which provided the lead gift for the project. The new 48,000-square-foot LEED-certified facility will provide space for CII’s comprehensive services including clinical treatment, early childhood education, child enrichment (visual and performing arts, music, sports and mentoring), and family support. Many of these programs and resources will be available to the community at large.
Over the past 25 years, CII has doubled its staff and quadrupled the number of children and families served, reaching more than 17,000 a year at present. During the same period, the annual budget has grown from nearly $1 million to $29 million. This growth and record of success has earned CII a position of leadership among children’s service organizations locally and nationally, and has positioned the agency for the next century of service.
