A Century of Social Action

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June 1924

An old, framed sign reading: "The Purpose Of THE INSTITUTE FOR JUVENILE RESEARCH IS TO STUDY and HELP CHILDREN Who For Any Reason Are Unhappy | Any Child Up to 18yrs Of Age May be Referred To The Institute"

Global Alliance Founded

The Global Alliance was originally founded as the American Orthopsychiatric Association (Ortho).

Ortho was organized in Chicago at the Institute for Juvenile Research.

President, 1924–26

Global Alliance President

William Healy, MD

Ortho’s co-founder and first president, who established the first child guidance clinic in the U.S. He advocated the team approach and the child’s own story, as well as the multifactor theory of delinquency.

October 1930

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry Published

There have been over 94 volumes of the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry since it was first published in 1930. Global Alliance still releases bimonthly issues to this day.

President, 1931–32

Global Alliance President

Augusta F. Bronner, PhD

First female president of Ortho, the research partner and wife of co-founder William Healy. Bronner co-directed the first child guidance clinic in the U.S.

1943

"Into the Jaws of Death," an iconic photograph depicting the Omaha Beach landings on D-Day from the perspective of the landing craft

Ortho at War

Ortho almost had to cancel its 1943 annual meeting, because so many members were fighting in WWII.

The organization has been a proponent of the rights of service members and veterans, including advocating for the inclusion of PTSD in the DSM.

President, 1963–64

A photograph of Gisela Knopka, DSW at her desk, writing

Gisela Konopka, DSW

The “mother of social group work” in Germany, Konopka resisted the Nazis and was imprisoned in 1937, eventually escaping and fleeing to the U.S. She helped rebuild German social services after the war on behalf of the U.S. State Department.

1950s

A portrait photograph of Joseph McCarthy in 1954 — Joseph McCarthy

The DEW “Blacklist”

Ortho strongly advocated against the “blacklisting” of scientists by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (DEW) for their personal and political beliefs during the anti-Communist “Red Scare.”

President, 1973–74

The official portrait of former U.S. Surgeon General Julius B. Richmond

Global Alliance President

Julius B. Richmond, MD

Richmond served as the Surgeon General of the United States during the Carter Administration. He was the first national director of Head Start, and a founding member of Zero to Three.

1968

Martin Luther King, Jr. delivering his "I Have a Dream Speech" from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. during the Million Man March

Ortho and Civil Rights

During the 1960’s, Ortho declared acting on Civil Rights, as relevant to professional practice, the association’s responsibility. This led to several resignations.

In 1968, the Board of Directors adopted a resolution honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.’s memory.

President, 1982–83

Global Alliance President

Bertram S. Brown, MD

Brown was at the forefront of mental disability research, and an advocate for deinstitutionalization.

He served as the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and as the Asst. Surgeon General of the United States.

1972

A black and white photograph of young people in the 1970s, overlaid with text reading, "BAZELON | Protecting & advancing the rights of people with mental disabilities for | 50 YEARS"

Bazelon Center Founded

The Mental Health Law Project was established as a partnership between Ortho, the ACLU, and the Center for Law and Social Policy. In 1993, it was renamed the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law after Judge David Bazelon, Ortho President from 1969–70.

President, 1983–84

Global Alliance President

Chester M. Pierce, MD, ScD

Pierce was the founding president of the Black Psychiatrists of America in 1969. He was a senior advisor on the creation of Sesame Street, and is widely credited with coining the term “microagression.”

1979

Margaret Mead, PhD

The famed anthropologist Margaret Mead was a lifetime Ortho member, and the first recipient of the Ittleson Award. She organized a session at the annual conference in 1979, but passed away a month prior. Global Alliance still has her prepared presentation.

President, 1985–86

Global Alliance President

Claire M. Fagin, RN, PhD, FAAN

Fagin was the first nurse to serve as President of Ortho. She is credited with establishing the practice of “rooming in,” allowing mothers to stay with their babies in the hospital.

1980s

A march in Florida led by the National Organization for Women in Support of the Equal Rights Amendment

Ortho and Women’s Rights

Throughout the 80’s, Ortho provided financial assistance to the National Organization of Women (NOW) and the National March for Women’s Lives, in support of a woman’s right to choose an abortion.

In 1978, Ortho’s Board voted not to hold the annual meeting in any state that had not ratified the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

President, 1990–91

Global Alliance President

Elaine Pinderhughes, MSW

Pinderhughes combatted racism and authored the textbook, Understanding Race, Ethnicity, and Power. She served as the Chair of the Clinical Program at the Boston College School of Social Work.

1992

Rodney King Riots

Following the Rodney King Riots in Los Angeles, the Ortho Board denounced the dismantling of government programs and pledged to work with allied groups and policymakers to address the crisis of racism. Also in 1992, Ralph Nader received Ortho’s Public Service Award.

President, 1993–94

Global Alliance President

Edward F. Zigler, PhD

The “Father of Head Start,” Zigler helped plan the “War on Poverty,” advising multiple presidents from Johnson to Obama. He was the first director of the U.S. Office of Child Development and directed the Yale Bush Center in Child Development and Social Policy.