It opened as the "Family Support Center" in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1992, to support the Portsmouth Prenatal Clinic (which had been founded in 1984). Over the years, the Center provided parent education classes and support groups.
In 2002, the organization was the recipient of its first federal grant, for a "Health Care for the Homeless" program. In 2003, they opened a Dental Center.
In November 2003, bestselling author Dan Brown promoted the organization by arranging a booksigning. He also announced a charity children's CD, Musica Animalia, 15 original poems and music which he had composed. The CD is available exclusively via the Families First organization.