Florence Crittenton Services

Florence Crittenton Services was established by Charlotte civic religious leaders in 1903. After an article in the news was published detailing the suicide of a single and pregnant 16-year-old, citizens joined forces to provide a safe place and understanding, rather than condemnation, for single, pregnant women. Philanthropist Charles Crittenton donated funds and requested that the program be named in memory of his daughter, Florence, who died of scarlet fever at the age of four. Since that time, nearly 39,000 young mothers and their babies have received medical/prenatal care, social services, education and career services, adoption and parenting support services at Florence Crittenton Services. By the 1980s, FCS was serving a different population than in the previous decades. FCS had a multicultural population of young women. Many were victims of sexual abuse, emotional disturbance, substance abuse and neglect or abandonment by their families. FCS began to develop new services, such as infant daycare, pregnancy testing and counseling and pregnancy prevention, as well as substance abuse prevention and education. In 2003, local philanthropist Sarah Belk Gambrell made it possible for FCS to extend its services to parenting girls and women in foster care. Sarah’s House now helps six young women and their children with the same social services offered in its maternity and prevention programs, along with services specifically geared toward raising healthy and stable children. In 2011, FCS began its first Independent Living Program focused specifically on 16-21 year old girls and women in custody of the Department of Social Services. Called Legacy Hall, this preparation for adult living skills program assists clients with a focus on preventing negative behaviors and the development of self-sufficiency.

Florence Crittenton Services of North Carolina is a non-profit organization that helps pregnant and non-pregnant yet at-risk girls and women by providing: comprehensive medical and prenatal care social, educational, adoption and parenting support services substance abuse intervention, treatment and prevention