The Past, The Present, The Future

GUIDE strives to be one of the premier nonprofit behavioral health, social service, and juvenile justice agencies in the Washington, D.C.- Baltimore, MD region. We operate a variety of community-based human service programs whose purposes are to enrich lives, empower families, enhance communities, and embrace diversity. Our goal is to provide activities and services that change lives, and strengthen community bonds and family relationships. We offer prevention, early intervention, treatment, aftercare and housing services.  The organization serves troubled children; at risk youth and families; and, adults who have psychiatric challenges and disabilities.

In 1968, then a member of the Psychology Department at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., GUIDE's Founder and first Executive Director, Dr. Richard A. Wunderlich, initiated a drug and alcohol abuse counseling service for youth and families referred by the Juvenile Court in Prince George's County, Maryland, Congressional Record, March 5, 1970- pdf. Through the years individuals and families have turned to GUIDE to offer guidance and assistance in times of personal challenge. Public officials and community agencies have looked to GUIDE to provide resources for their communities. Civic-minded private citizens, foundations, and corporations have joined with and helped GUIDE in its work through generous contributions, grants, and volunteer activities.

GUIDE is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. An independent accounting firm audits GUIDE's financial statements annually, which, along with the agency's current IRS Form 990, are available upon request. GUIDE publishes Annual Reports that are available on the News and Reports page of this website along with newsletters, press releases, and other archived agency publications.

Mission Statement

In collaboration with community service organizations, private citizens, government officials, and other health and social service providers, the GUIDE organization seeks to cultivate healthier and safer communities through its provision of high quality mental health, juvenile justice, substance abuse, social service, and housing programs serving, children, adolescents, families, and adults with disabilities.

Governance and Management of GUIDE Program

The GUIDE Program is governed by an independent Board of Directors that is responsible for the organization's overall mission, direction and accountability. The agency's Officers and Executive Management Team provide day-to-day operational management.