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In the early 1970s, a small group of community leaders and residents joined together to develop a juvenile delinquency prevention program for Mira Mesa and other communities in the northern area of San Diego. Andy Patapow, a school principal; John Worthington, a minister; and Terry Tibbitts, a psychologist, all living in San Diego North City, formed Harmonium and went to the City and County to request money for youth services. 

When our doors opened in 1975 with a budget of around $100,000, our focus was primarily at-risk and high-risk youth. Our goal was to prevent them from entering or re-entering the juvenile justice system. 

Today, Harmonium has evolved into a modern, multi-dimensional human care organization with a broad range of counseling, juvenile delinquency prevention, childcare, enrichment, teen, community technology and arts programs. Our agency serves the San Diego region including the central and outlying areas of the County from Oceanside to San Ysidro, from Pacific Beach to Alpine and Jamul. Services are provided on many school campuses, at police stations, Epicentre/San Diego Regional Teen Center and at numerous neighborhood locations. Our annual budget for 2008/2009 is approximately $11.8 million and the agency has over 600 staff. 

Our Future

It is by aligning our work with our values that we are best able to contribute to and support the communities we serve every day. It is through personalized programs and services, performed with integrity by our skilled staff and partners, leveraging technology and collaborative relationships, that we are able to create innovative ways to reach out and meet the ever-increasing needs of our children, youth, families and communities. 

Our community's needs are expanding, as is Harmonium growing to meet those needs. The digital divide is an issue that will continue to impact our communities, as are the political / social environments, availability of affordable housing, plight of the working poor, the aging population, enculturation of various ethnic populations, and surburban / rural outreach. Harmonium's programming has addressed aspects within these greater issues for our communities, and will continue to do so. 

Proud of our old-fashioned service and commitment to families, we are confident in our ability to blend personal, individualized services with the demands of a fast-paced, technologically oriented world and of its leadership in the human care profession and its stature in the communities it serves. 

Harmonium is dedicated to improving the quality of life and strengthening the capacity of children, youth, and families to lead happy, successful, self-sufficient lives through “Services that promote well-being for all individuals and families throughout the San Diego Community.” 

Harmonium Milestones

1975 Founded and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

1978 Established Neighborhood Youth Centers in Mira Mesa and Poway.

1980 Established Klassic Kids, our first school-aged, California licensed child care program at Ericson Elementary School.

1984 Established counseling office in Rancho Peñasquitos.

1988 Launched the Youth-2-Youth Hotline, started by a sixteen-year old student, to be run by and for teens.

1989 Enrichment Programs, originally developed in the Poway and Escondido schools and in conjunction with the Parent Teachers Association, are brought under the Harmonium umbrella of services

1989 Harmonium opens four Klassic Kids licensed childcare bungalows. Later, four additional Klassic Kids programs are established in Mira Mesa, La Mesa, Point Loma and Scripps Ranch. A model collaborative among the San Diego Unified Schools, City of San Diego, developers, residents, Harmonium presently serves 500 students at 10 school sites in the City of San Diego.

1991 Ramona Neighborhood Youth Center, serving youth and their families, is opened. Areas served include outlying areas from Ramona to Julian, Borrego Springs and Warner Springs.

1992 Harmonium Teen Council begins meeting with objective to create a regional teen center.

1994 Harmonium receives a lease for city-owned building to create a regional teen center. Once the home of the Mira Mesa library, it's across the street from Mira Mesa High School and within five miles of four other middle and high schools.

1995 Spring Valley Neighborhood Youth Center, serving youth and their families, is opened. Areas served include Spring Valley, La Mesa and Lemon Grove.

1997 Harmonium obtains County contract to provide family support and advocacy services for families of severely disturbed children and youth; leader in the newly designed San Diego County Heartbeat System redesign of Children's Services; recognized as a foremost authority and trainer in the nationally recognized Wraparound philosophy of service delivery.

1999 Following a million-dollar City renovation of the old Mira Mesa Library building, the Grand opening of the San Diego Regional Teen Center (Epicentre) is held on New Year’s Day.

1999 Harmonium becomes the largest provider of PrimeTime / “6 to 6” extended day programs. Harmonium now serves 4,500 children at over 50 schools in San Diego City Schools and the San Ysidro School District daily.

1999 El Cajon Neighborhood Youth Center, serving youth and their families, opened. Areas served include El Cajon, Santee, Lakeside, Alpine and Jamul.

2000 Harmonium becomes a leader in community technology/digital divide efforts. All programs continue to grow.

2001 A development and communications team is formed to implement a broad fundraising, board development and awareness campaign. Fiscal, information technology, human resources and other critical infrastructure needs are addressed to support the agency's growth.

2003 Partners Investing in Children Campaign is launched.

2005 Harmonium launches the Growing Families cause marketing campaign and celebrates its 30th anniversary.

2006 Harmonium begins an innovative partnership with Baker and Balboa Elementary schools providing onsite low-cost child care centers to serve energetic and committed teachers in the Southeastern communities of San Diego; meeting the needs of students through the resulting retention of staff.  

2006 Harmonium opens the free City Arts Academy Charter School that focuses on academic excellence through creative expression; named after Harmonium’s after-school arts program operated since 1998. City Arts Academy, chartered for K-3rd grade, integrates visual/performing arts into all curriculum areas and provides individualized education for each student.

2009 Harmonium launches newly redesigned website.