Welcome to Five Acres

Since 1888, Five Acres has protected the most vulnerable members of our community: children. Originally founded in downtown Los Angeles as an orphanage, Five Acres was initially created to offer safety to children who had no home. In time, our mission expanded to also focus on the well-being and mental health of our clients who were increasingly coming to us as a result of abuse or neglect.

Having grown to an agency caring for more than 6,500 children and family members annually across six counties, we now strive for permanency—a permanent, loving home—for all children in our care. The three pillars of safety, well-being and permanency provide the framework for all our programs and will guide our steps as we develop even more effective means of caring for children and families in crisis.

Designated as a Family Resource Center, Five Acres is recognized as “an entity providing family-centered and family-strengthening services that are embedded in communities, culturally sensitive, and include cross-system collaboration to assist in transforming families and communities through reciprocity and asset development based on impact-driven and evidence-informed approaches with the goal of preventing child abuse and neglect and strengthening children and families.” Source: California Welfare & Institutions Code Section 18951(g)

Picture of Five Acres Family - Serving Children

missionFive Acres promotes safety, well-being and permanency for children and their families by building on their strengths and empowering them within communities.

Fiveacres-GIRLSafety

Since 1888, children’s safety has been the bedrock on which our programs are founded. Through mental health and behavioral health counseling, Five Acres addresses and heals the trauma that affects children and their families so that kids can grow and thrive within a loving family.

Well-being

Healthy families are more likely to remain intact and enjoy a greater level of well-being. Five Acres believes families stay together when they are provided with essential prevention and intervention resources for success.

Permanency

Five Acres actively strives to provide stability by connecting children to  safe, permanent and loving families. With the chance to stay in a caring home, children are able to rebuild their sense of belonging and grow.

Five Acres Timeline

1888 – Five Acres opens its doors in downtown Los Angeles

1921 – Five Acres moves to five acres in Altadena. Famed architect Myron Hunt commissioned to design the facility

1957 – California Alliance of Child and Family Services founded by Five Acres

1965 – 
Five Acres Auxiliary established

1981 – Five Acres Therapeutic School for severely emotionally disturbed children opens

1985 – 
Five Acres initiates Community-based services

1988 – Foster Care Program

1990 – Community Deaf Services Program

Five Acres Children’s Guild established

1998 – Contract with LA Department of Mental Health

2000 – Adoption Agency License and Program

Community Based Program

Therapeutic Behavioral Services Program

2001 – Five Acres builds Arts & Education building

2004 – 
The Grace Center Domestic Violence Program becomes an affiliate of Five Acres

2006 – Adoption Promotions Support Services Program

Wraparound Program

2007 – Pasadena Mental Health Center becomes an affiliate of Five Acres

2008 – Intensive Treatment Foster Care Program

2009 – 
Zeilstra Research & Training Center is established

2012 – Chanel Boutakidis appointed CEO

2013 – 
Five Acres celebrates 125 years

2018 – Five Acres celebrates 130 years

Five Acres Day, March 12, is officially declared by LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger

2020 – Worldwide COVID Pandemic started. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2022, Five Acres rapidly transitioned most non-residential services to telehealth and expanded our technology

2021 – The Family First federal reform was announced and Five Acres pivoted to meet the new federal guidelines allowing to continue providing mental health services to children that have been traumatized

2022 – Five Acres was the first child welfare organization to negotiate a CalAIM contract with healthcare

2023 – Five Acres celebrates its 135th anniversary