Dear Friends,

This year marks a big milestone for CGC: 75 years of serving the children and families of our community. Since 1951, Child Guidance Center has grown and evolved alongside Jacksonville, but our mission of showing up for kids and families when they need us most has stayed the same.

We kicked off our 75th anniversary celebration in style this spring at our annual Sandal, Sneaker, & Stiletto Gala. Thanks to your generosity, the evening was a tremendous success, raising approximately $80,000 to support our mission! Seeing a room packed with supporters of this cause was a powerful reminder of how deeply this community cares for our kids.

As we get closer and closer to our October 1st "birthday", we're reflecting on how far we've come over the last three-quarters of a century and looking ahead to all that's still possible. Whether it's answering a crisis call, supporting a child at school, or walking with a family through their hardest days, every moment of care over these 75 years has been made possible by people like you. Thank you for being part of this!

Respectfully,

Theresa Thweatt Rulien, Ph.D.
President & CEO

75 Years & Counting: Our Gala Celebration

What a night! Our 5th Annual Sandal, Sneaker, & Stiletto Gala was extra special this year as we kicked off our 75th anniversary celebration. More than 125 guests joined us at the beautiful San Jose Country Club for an unforgettable evening of food, fun, and purpose.

We're so grateful to our sponsors, attendees, staff, and volunteers who made the evening such a success. There's no better way to mark 75 years of service than to be surrounded by the people who make our work possible.

We are so excited to share that the Deerwood Rotary Club and the Leeby Foundation have graciously agreed to fund our first therapeutic playground at our South Duval site! And not just any playground. This space will be specifically designed to help children build mental health muscles and emotional strength.

Playgrounds are more than places for play. They are dynamic, research-backed spaces where children develop key physical, cognitive, and social-emotional skills. When intentionally designed, they enhance therapy by boosting engagement, supporting real-life learning, and helping children of all abilities make meaningful progress. Outdoor play is both engaging and beneficial for brain development, helping children build balance, body awareness, focus, and emotional control while naturally fostering interaction and communication. 

Studies indicate that using inclusive outdoor settings for therapy can improve motor skills, self-regulation, and social engagement, while also making it easier for children to apply these skills in everyday life at home and school.

A key part of CGC’s approach is play therapy, which helps children express themselves and work through challenges in ways that match their developmental needs. While in-office therapy has long been a cornerstone of care, CGC is working to expand its capabilities by creating safe, therapeutic outdoor playground spaces. These environments will allow children to engage in movement, play, and creative expression.

The playground is currently under construction (sneak peek below!), and we can't wait to show you the finished project! Keep an eye on our social media for updates! 

This May, our team went all in for Mental Health Awareness Month! We proudly participated in Get Your Green On Day, donning green to help raise awareness and break the stigma surrounding mental health.

We're grateful to stand alongside NAMI Jacksonville and so many others in our community who are committed to making mental health a priority. Reducing stigma starts with showing up, speaking out, and reminding one another that mental health matters every single day.

Summer break is here, which means more time together and a few more "I'm bored" moments along the way. We've got two blog posts to help you make the most of the season while supporting your family's mental health.

First, if screens tend to take over during summer days, Screen Time and Kids: Finding the Right Balance offers tips for creating healthy digital habits.

And when you're looking for budget-friendly ways to keep everyone entertained, check out Fun on a Budget: Creative Activities for Families for fun, affordable ideas the whole family can enjoy.

Hope Needs Help: Support Talkable Communities 

Talkable Communities, our partnership that teaches everyday people how to talk about mental health in ways that save lives, needs your support. After five years and nearly 1,000 lifesaving trainings, recent funding cuts now threaten this vital program. 

The Hope Needs Help campaign is working to raise $300,000 to keep these trainings going. You can make a one-time donation, start your own fundraiser, or become a sponsor. Every contribution helps neighbors show up for one another in moments of crisis.