Local nonprofit, Center for Human Services (CHS) is celebrating 45 years with a big move!
By Kate Trompetter, Marketing/PR Director
In 1970, Richard Nixon was President and gas was 36 cents a gallon and Head Rest opened its doors. It started as a drop-in center for youth struggling with drug and alcohol use, originally located where Ralston Towers now stands in downtown Modesto. In 1972, my Dad was on the Board of Directors. My mom was an early volunteer. Clearly, I was born to work here. As time went by, Head Rest grew. The focus shifted from programs reacting to issues in our community to a broader, educational approach aimed youth and their families. In 1984, Head Rest became Center for Human Services.
Today, Center for Human Services employs over 200 people. I am one. I love what we do and what we stand for. My colleagues work in every community throughout the county and we continue to grow. In the past 5 years, we have increased staff by 34% and revenue by 36%. Building futures and changing lives is what we do. We provide quality treatment for mental health and addiction issues, offer shelter and educational services for youth, and connect people in need to resources in our community.
Long before I came to work at CHS, there was a dream of a new location, which included the ownership of our own building. In September 2014, CHS purchased a building in Modesto. The building was once the much-loved Roller King. For me, the essence of Roller King was family (chosen and otherwise), connection, and optimism. Whether I was at the Snack Shack, preparing for the girls fast skate, or maybe stuck in “jail”, the thing about Roller King was that you felt you belonged there, you were connected, and even in “jail”, there was a way out and people to share life with. I grew up at Roller King. For many of us at CHS, it feels fitting that we will inhabit the same space. I believe CHS shares the essence of what Roller King was; family, connectedness, and optimism.
As we celebrate our 45th year in Stanislaus County, we’re preparing for a move into our new home. With the larger facility, we will be better positioned to meet the current and future demands of our community. We have launched a Capital Campaign: Framing Our Future. The goal is $1 million. I’m proud to say we are more than half-way there! A successful campaign will secure funds to support the construction of the inside of our new building, while allowing CHS to use more of our fundraising and operating budget in service to our community.
For more information on Framing Our Future, a campaign for Center for Human Services, please visit www.centerforhumanservices.org/capitalcampaign or call 209-526-1476
