Profile: Patrick Gogerty

Patrick Gogerty grew up the angry child of an alcoholic father who beat him and a fortune-teller mother who parked him in foster care. This is the story of how he used political skill and high-level connections, hitched to his single-minded conviction, to build the state's premier organization for treating the youngest victims of abuse and neglect.

Read the full story.

The History of Childhaven

A century of caring for children

Since 1909, Childhaven has been a safe and nurturing place for children. From our earliest days as one of Seattle’s first child care centers for working mothers to our position today as a national leader in caring for abused and neglected children, we’ve healed old hurts, nurtured young lives and empowered families to break the cycle of abuse and neglect and create lifelong loving relationships.

1976-1992—Early Education Mobile Resource vans offer training and support to child care centers and home-based child care in three counties.

1977—The agency begins its Therapeutic Child Care Program for children from birth through five, an innovative approach that focuses on helping the child regardless of parental participation and putting the child’s safety and needs first. It was revolutionary at the time. Other social service programs focused on family unity; if the parents weren’t involved, the child wasn’t served.

1979—The State of Washington mandates reporting of child abuse; HB 1207 dedicates funding for research into the effectiveness of therapeutic child care.

1985—Firmly committed to the mission of breaking the cycle of abuse and neglect while caring for its youngest victims, Seattle Day Nursery changes its name to Childhaven.