In 1881 a handful of individuals who had observed the increasing tendencies of pauperism in the nation's capital decided with firm convictions to make a change in the communities that lived in the District of Columbia. Each was a passionate and determined advocate for poor folk and they had all worked previously at reformatory measures.

Their early meetings were at the home of Mr. A.S. Solomons on K Street. Faced with the prospects of increasing poverty and the need to protect the generous contributions of the citizens of Washington, D.C. this group resolved to form an organization under the name of the Associated Charities of the District of Columbia Annual. In 1882 the Associated Charities was incorporated with seven objectives in its original charter:

1. The promotion of efficient and economic cooperation among the charitable societies and organizations and private and benevolent individuals of the District.
2. The prompt relief of all cases of real destitution.
3. The prevention of imposture in the matter of alms, of street begging and of indiscriminate and duplicate charity.
4. The provision of means of obtaining prompt, full and reliable information regarding the condition, circumstances and needs of every applicant for charity to whom it may concern.
5. The supply, whenever possible, of employment as the basis of relief.
6. The improvement of the condition of the dependent poor, with a view of their self-support.
7. The ascertainment of the real causes of vagrancy and pauperism with a view to their suppression.
8. This charter was filed January 16, 1882, and the office was opened at 1418 F Street on the 29th of January. In its’ first year it had receipts of $2,984.32 with the number "applying for alms" at $1,776.

This was the beginning of Family and Child Services, Inc.