What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 6pm Tuesday 8am - 6pm Wednesday 8am - 6pm Thursday 8am - 6pm Friday 8am - 5pm

The Child and Family Guidance Center

Home
United States
Bridgeport, CT
The Child and Family Guidance Center

Giving children & families the tools and support to heal from trauma and build brighter futures.

The mission of The Child & Family Guidance Center is to provide culturally responsive mental health services and complementary supports to children, teenagers, and their families, regardless of their ability to pay. Our goal is for all Fairfield County children to be emotionally and psychologically healthy so that they can reach their maximum potential at home, at school and in life.

09/23/2025

At The Child and Family Guidance Center, we are honored to work alongside new and expectant mothers through our Greater Bridgeport Home Visiting Partnership. Our goal is to provide compassionate care, reliable information, and ongoing advocacy for the health and well-being of children and families in our community.

Recent media coverage has raised questions about acetaminophen use during pregnancy. We know this can feel concerning for parents. Yale child psychologist Dr. James McPartland shared an important reminder: “the bulk of scientific literature has shown no causal link between autism and acetaminophen exposure to the womb.”

We remain committed to supporting families with compassion and sharing clear, evidence-based information. When mothers are supported, children and families thrive.

You can read more in NBC Connecticut’s coverage here: Yale Expert Weighs in on Acetaminophen Use and Pregnancy https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/yale-expert-weighs-in-acetaminophen-use-pregnancy-autism/3641740/

We encourage all families to always consult with their physician for guidance.

09/22/2025

Shana Tova from The Child & Family Guidance Center ✨🍯🍎

As we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, a season of reflection and growth, we also celebrate a new chapter for one of our own.

After four years of dedicated service as OPCC Supervisor, Fred Hyman will be leaving CFGC at the end of October. Alongside his work here, Fred has faithfully served as a Rabbi in Connecticut, and now he has been called to lead a larger synagogue in another state. We are truly thrilled for Fred and this new opportunity. His calm and steady presence here will be deeply missed, but his impact will continue to resonate.

As we wish Fred well in this exciting journey, we also extend to all who celebrate a heartfelt Shana Tova. May the year ahead be filled sweetness and new beginnings. ✨

09/19/2025

Crisis can happen at any time — that’s why our Mobile Crisis Intervention Services (MCIS) team is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

We provide immediate support to children, teens, and families whenever they need it most. Because in a moment of crisis, someone being there for you makes all the difference. 💙

09/10/2025

“We should not have to live in a country where the government can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, or appears to work a low-wage job. Rather than stand idly by while our constitutional freedoms are lost, I dissent.” — Justice Sonia Sotomayor

As a Latino, and as someone who serves as the executive director of an organization serving many Latino and immigrant families, Justice Sotomayor’s words resonate.

Latino, low-income and working-class families are central to who we are. These are the families we serve, and they are the colleagues who serve alongside me. But this isn’t only about families here in our community. Families across the country are feeling the same fear and carrying the same burdens. Their mental health, stability, and safety are being put at risk by racial profiling that treat them as suspects rather than neighbors.

At The Child and Family Guidance Center, we know how actions like this ripple through families. Aggressive immigration enforcement doesn’t just disrupt lives. It creates stress and trauma that weigh heavily on parents and children alike. When parents are afraid to go to work, send their kids to school, or show up for critical health appointments, children carry that fear. When communities live under the constant threat of being targeted or detained simply for who they are, mental health suffers.

As we reflect on this decision, we are thinking of the families and individuals whose well-being will be most affected.

For the past 100 years we have continued to provide a place of care, stability, and dignity. Despite the current climate outside our doors, we will continue to provide culturally-competent, trauma-informed mental health care.

— Michael Patota, President & CEO

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/supreme-court-lifts-restrictions-trump-immigration-tactics-california/story?id=125368918

09/09/2025

Thank you to Board Member, Dan Tenney, PhD, for connecting us with the Bridgeport Green Festival 🌱

Our MCIS team, led by Sylvadra Ellis, LCSW, is available to any child in Fairfield County in crisis.

📞 If you're in CT and you or someone you know is in a crisis, call 211 (1-1) and our MCIS team can be there to help.

Thank you team for your commitment and dedication to our community!

#211

09/06/2025

📊 Over 90% of adults with a substance use disorder started using alcohol or drugs during adolescence — and beginning earlier raises the lifetime risks for mental health, school, and physical health issues.

That’s why prevention and early treatment are important. At The Child & Family Guidance Center, we support youth and families in creating healthier futures through programs like:

💙 SSTRY — An 8-month program for ages 12–24 with clinician and recovery support, family sessions, and regular drug screenings.�
💙 SUD-PATH — For ages 12–18 in outpatient care. Includes therapy, care coordination, and family support.
💙 SUD-FOCUS — SBIRT screenings to help identify and connect youth with the appropriate care.�
💙 MET-CBT — A therapy method combining motivational enhancement with cognitive-behavioral strategies.
💙 SMART Recovery & Connections — Peer support groups for teens and adults.

✨ Co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns are always addressed first in treatment.

If you or someone you know is struggling, learn more at cfguidance.com/substance-abuse.

09/03/2025

💛September is Su***de Prevention Awareness Month💛

No one deserves to face their struggles alone. Our team provides affordable, accessible therapy for individuals and families in our community, offering a safe space to heal and find hope.

Together, we can break the stigma, support one another, and remind every person: your life matters.

📞 If you're in CT, call 211 if you or someone you know is in a crisis, and our MCIS team can be there to help.

***dePrevention #211

09/01/2025

It's our 100th birthday and the celebration is just getting started!

Today, the Child and Family Guidance Center turns 100. For a century, we’ve been there for children and families with care, counseling, and compassion.

To mark this milestone, we’re launching our 100 for 100 Campaign and we’ve set some big goals:
🎂 Welcome 100 new donors into the CFGC community
🎂 Inspire $100 gifts in honor of our 100 years
🎂 Complete 100 community connections in schools and neighborhoods

These goals aren’t just numbers. They’re our commitment to being there for the next child, the next family, the next 100 years.

Celebrate with us! cfguidance.com/100for100

08/29/2025

Our offices will be closed on Labor Day: Monday, September 1, 2025.

We’re grateful for the social workers, mental health specialists, and first responders who help families and communities thrive every day. Your care makes a difference, and so does taking care of yourself.

If you or a loved one needs mental health support, mobile crisis teams are available 24/7. Call 2-1-1 to connect.

08/27/2025

✏️📚 Back to School Season is here!

As kids start a new school year, big emotions often come with new classrooms, friends, and routines.

Ramon A. Jimenez, Cay White, MD award winner and Outpatient Childhood Therapist, uses art therapy as a creative approach with a goal to help improve and enhance his young clients’ mental and emotional well-being.🎨💛

Our team is here to support your family every step of the way. 💬✨

08/25/2025

Through the Greater Bridgeport Home Visiting Partnership ( ) between CFGC and Bridgeport Hospital, our Fatherhood Program helps dads build confidence, strengthen bonds, and show up for their families with purpose.

From home visits to group sessions, we offer tools, guidance, and encouragement so fathers can make a positive, lasting impact in their children’s lives.

Whether you’re a new dad or navigating the challenges of fatherhood, we’re here to walk beside you. Every step, and every baby step, of the way.

Learn more about our family support services at cfguidance.com/family-support-2/

08/21/2025

As CFGC celebrates 100 years of showing up for children and families, we’re also getting ready for an exciting new chapter.

After more than a decade of leadership, our President & CEO Michael Patota will be retiring at the end of this year. Michael has been so much more than a leader. He’s been a steady presence and a true champion for our team and the families we serve. His commitment and care have helped shape CFGC into the strong, future-ready organization we are today.

In a year where our theme is “We’ve Been There,” we’re proud to say that Michael has been there through it all, leading with heart, integrity, and an unwavering belief in this work.

If you’ve had the chance to work with Michael, we’d love for you to share a favorite memory or well wishes.

With the Board-led search for our next CEO already underway, we’re feeling grateful for where we’ve been and energized for where we’re going.

Thank you, Michael, for everything you’ve done to carry the legacy forward. 💙

View the full announcement at cfguidance.com/home-3/news-media/

Address

180 Fairfield Avenue
Bridgeport, CT
06604

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 6pm
Tuesday	8am - 6pm
Wednesday	8am - 6pm
Thursday	8am - 6pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+12033946529

Website

http://www.cfguidance.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Child and Family Guidance Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to The Child and Family Guidance Center:

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Opening Hours
Alerts
Contact The Practice
Claim ownership or report listing

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Bridgeport?

Our Vision, Mission and History

Our Vision

All children and families will have the emotional well-being and resources needed to succeed in life.

Our Mission

We provide children and families with culturally-informed mental health care and complementary supports, regardless of ability to pay.

Our History

Two things have remained constant in the Child and Family Guidance Center’s 90+ year history—the need for affordable mental health services and champions to advocate for them.

On September 1, 1925, the Bridgeport Mental Hygiene Clinic—the third of its kind in Connecticut—opened its doors. The inspiration behind the clinic’s creation came from wealthy businessman Clifford W. Beers, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Connecticut Society for Mental Hygiene. Beers himself suffered from mental illness, and could afford the very best treatment. Knowing that many people could not pay for treatment of any kind, he rallied a group of business people in Bridgeport to support this new venture. With an operating budget of $5424, we started out with a staff of two, providing free mental health care in Bridgeport several days each week.

Three name changes and three Bridgeport locations later, the Child and Family Guidance Center is now located at 180 Fairfield Avenue. With an operating budget of $11 million, we have a staff of 125 people and operate three satellite offices in Fairfield, Stratford, and Norwalk.

Our sixteen programs have helped thousands of people in Fairfield County, with the majority of our work being done in Greater Bridgeport and Greater Norwalk. Across all of our programs, we strive to increase the emotional well-being of the people we serve and create stable and nurturing environments for children.