Our mission

Epiphany Center strengthens family life through programs faithful to the beliefs of the Catholic Church, rooted in Judeo-Christian values and the tradition of service of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.

Epiphany Center provides client-centered care to a diverse population of children, women, and families who are the most vulnerable in our society. Our purpose is to strengthen family life and to enhance the physical, social-emotional, intellectual and spiritual growth of each person in our care.

Our vision is to create a safe environment that reflects the belief that each person is created by God, is endowed with unique gifts, and is worthy of respect. We believe that our care for individuals enriches their present and future lives, the lives of their families and, through them, the community in which we live.

Our Services

Our Values

Featured

Respect

To create a safe environment that honors individual and cultural differences.

Compassionate Care

To strive for excellence in treatment planning, teamwork among staff and a healthy environment for both staff and clients.

Inventiveness to Infinity

To work together and to form collaborative partnerships to discover new solutions for every challenge.

Advocacy

To speak and act consistently toward enriching the present and future lives of children, women, and families.

Simplicity

To act with integrity, clarity and honesty.

“Before coming to Epiphany Center, I was struggling with chronic homelessness, addiction, and domestic violence. My experience at Epiphany was life-changing. Epiphany gave me the tools I had lost. They gave me the push to get the support I needed.”

Kayla

Epiphany Graduate 2020

Our History

Serving San Francisco’s most vulnerable communities since 1852.

1852

The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul arrived in San Francisco. They founded Epiphany Center (formerly known as Mount St. Joseph-St. Elizabeth) as the Roman Catholic Orphanage for children whose parents died in the cholera epidemic that devastated the City. It was located in a small wooden building on Montgomery Street.
1862

The Daughters of charity purchased 57 acres on a hill in South San Francisco when Market Street became the bustling center of the city and no longer an ideal place for children. They built a home for 300 young orphans on Silver Avenue called Mount St. Joseph Infant Asylum (closed 1915).
1906

On April 18 at 5:12 a.m. an earthquake violently shook San Francisco and the surrounding area. Although much of the City was destroyed, Mount St. Joseph had little damage.
1910

Mount St. Joseph located on Newhall Street was destroyed by a fire. A new brick structure was built on the same site in 1912. Photo Credit: Archdiocese of San Francisco
1921

The Daughters of Charity opened St. Elizabeth’s Infant Hospital for unwed mothers under the director of the medical staff at Mary’s Help Hospital (later rebuilt in Daly City and renamed Seton Medical Center). The first program was located at 2350 Van Ness in a residence provided by Archbishop Hanna.
1927

St. Elizabeth’s soon outgrew the house on Van Ness and a new building was constructed at 100 Masonic with the generosity of B.P. Oliver.
1952

In August, the Daughters of Charity celebrated their 100th Anniversary of helping San Francisco’s most vulnerable children and families.
1953

The St. Elizabeth’s Auxiliary was formed to support the services to expectant mothers through volunteer hours and fundraising.

1976

Mount St. Joseph and St. Elizabeth’s merged administration. The Mount St. Joseph program at that time was caring for teenage girls in three therapeutic group homes. St. Elizabeth’s program provided residential services for pregnant and parenting teen mothers. Residents of both programs attended an on-site nonpublic school.
1986

At the request of the San Francisco Department of Human Services, the agency began a residential program for infants prenatally exposed to drugs to support reunification with their parents. The program changed services from residential to day care in December 2001 and provides licensed, therapeutic care to infants and toddlers.
1993

In March, the agency began providing outpatient recovery services to women with young children. These services were called the Epiphany Center for Families in Recovery.
1995

Epiphany Center began a contract with the Department of Human Services to provide in-home parenting support to at-risk families with children 0 to 3 years of age. In 2012, the child’s age was expanded to 5 years of age and an evidence-based parenting curriculum called SafeCare® became the primary intervention.
1999

Epiphany Center received federal funds to provide residential drug treatment services to women. A Victorian home located on Broderick Street was remodeled to accommodate 12 women and their children.
2002

On August 18, Mount St. Joseph-St. Elizabeth celebrated the 150th Anniversary of the arrival of the Daughters of Charity in San Francisco and the beginning of the services to children and their families.
2008

The agency began doing business as Epiphany Center, with Mount St. Joseph-St. Elizabeth remaining as its legal name.
2019

Epiphany Center offers more services to help children and mothers succeed. Our Epiphany Step-Down Program provides transitional housing and supportive aftercare services and bridges the gap between residential treatment and full independence. Our Road to Resilience Project helps women who are pregnant and/or have infants 0-12 months of age to find safety and stability through our services and referrals.