By providing comprehensive housing, early childhood education, economic mobility, and clinical counseling services we are able to address families' most critical needs and support mothers in creating long-term sustainability for their families.

OUR MISSION

Center for Transforming Lives partners with single mothers and their children so they can thrive. To disrupt the cycle of poverty, Center for Transforming Lives applies a two-generation framework of essential services including housing, counseling, early childhood education and economic mobility.

THE CENTER FOR TRANSFORMING LIVES DIFFERENCE

HOUSING FIRST

Without housing security, women and their children don’t feel safe enough to move forward. With the security of a home, employment, education and financial freedom are within reach.

TRAUMA-INFORMED

Because the majority of families who experience homelessness have been impacted by trauma, our approach is to understand what happened to the individual and to their family members, so that we can help them heal and move forward.

CYCLES OF WELL-BEING

For women with children, financial well-being and emotional well-being are equal parts of the whole. Our model addresses both equally and systematically, to create a cycle of well-being for the whole family.

VIEW CENTER FOR TRANSFORMING LIVES CYCLE OF WELLBEING

TWO-GENERATIONAL

The most effective way to disrupt poverty is to work with parents and children equally and simultaneously, so that transformation lasts into the next generation.

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OUR HISTORY

1907

Founded by Fort Worth women as the first YWCA to serve local low-income women. Early services included housing, employment supports and social activities

Collaborative Local Leadership included helping to found the local United Way, as well as the local chapters of the USO and Red Cross

1920s

1930s & 1940s

Expanded services for women & girls, establishing child care to support working women and girls leadership activities

Local branches operated in sites throughout Fort Worth, as well as the City of Arlington and Parker County

1950S

1960s - 2012

Agency Core Services included transitional living for adult women and child development centers

Strategic plan expanded services to address poverty and homelessness among women and their children at a greater scale. Increase in homeless services, early childhood education and added economic mobility.

2013

2014

Formal Theory of Change adopted to accelerate economic mobility and long-term stability for mothers and their children through two-generation, trauma informed interventions.

Launched new name of 'Center for Transforming Lives' to better reflect mission and vision

2015

2020s

Added Head Start services, doubling number of children served annually. Expanded clinical treatment services for children and adults.

Second nonprofit in Tarrant County to achieve national accreditation through Council on Accreditation.
Learn more at https://coanet.org/

2022

2025

Riverside Campus HQ opens, a national model for improving access and quality of service, serving 4,000 women and children annually. Learn more: Riverside Campus | Center for Transforming Lives

About

Center for Transforming Lives partners with single mothers and their children so they can thrive. Our services are two-generational and establish long-term financial and emotional well-being.

Center For Transforming Lives

3001 S. Riverside Drive
Fort Worth, Texas 76119

info@transforminglives.org
(817) 332-6191

PRIVACY NOTICE

Mission & History