Center News

As they stood on the front steps that blustery day in December 1962 who in the small group present would have dreamed what the future would hold. Bishop Robert Gooden said the prayers and the new recovery home was dedicated. Although the house on El Molino Avenue was built in 1894, the nonprofit, Bishop Gooden Home, was brand new. Forty-five years later over 6,000 men have gone up those same front steps into a new life of recovery and freedom from alcoholism and drug dependency.

And there have been changes too. Those original 13 beds have now grown to 47 beds. There is a residential treatment program, outpatient program and sober living homes as well. In recognition of its greatly expanded program and services, The Board of Directors voted in December 2007 to change the name of the organization to The Gooden Center. It was almost forty-five years from that historic day in 1962.

Bishop Gooden Home remains the flagship house. But it is one of several homes and cottages that make up The Gooden Center. Several focus groups were held with alumni and those who refer clients to determine the best new name. The Gooden Center was by far the first choice. "It is a historic time in the life of the organization to give a new name that more closely represents the multi-facted program we now provide. This isn't your grandfather's recovery home!" commented John Cushman, then Chairman of the Board of Directors. "We are very excited about the possibilities we have, as an accredited treatment center, to help the man and his family who still suffers from the disease of alcoholism and drug dependency. After all, we all know that 45 years old is still very young! We have a great future ahead and so do the clients who will some day call The Gooden Center their home too."