North Country Children's Clinic was founded in 1971, by a group of volunteers led by Dick Charles and Dr. George Sturtz, to fill a void in pediatric health care for children without regular access to health care. The first Well Child Clinic was held on October 12, 1971 at the North Side Improvement League, a donated site in Watertown.

Volunteer and released public health nurses and doctors provided health care while teaching families how to help their children grow up healthy. The premise was that prevention, early detection and parenting education would ultimately result in lowered health care costs and, of course, healthier children.

The Well Child Program was very popular and quickly expanded at the invitation of outlying communities in the rural areas of Jefferson County and then St. Lawrence, Lewis, and Franklin Counties. By early 1974, there were seventeen licensed, part-time clinic sites serving over 2,000 children. The Campaign for Human Development, the Watertown Foundation, the Regional Medical Program, the Community Action Planning Council, health departments, and hospitals funded or staffed this innovative program. Well child clinics were held throughout our four-county service area until the early to mid 1990’s when fund sources dried up.

In 1974, North Country Children's Clinic sought and obtained the Women's, Infant's and Children's Nutrition Program (WIC), one of the first in the nation. The United States Department of Agriculture paid for infant formula, milk, eggs, and cereal for eligible participants. We soon learned that pregnant women on the WIC Program gave birth to healthier infants. The WIC program began modestly with a caseload of 200 infants, children and pregnant women across all four counties and an operating budget of less than $100,000. Today, thousands of participants benefit from nutritious foods, nutrition advice and counseling, and breastfeeding support. The USDA estimates that for every $1 spent on the WIC program, $3 are saved in future medical costs.

In the fall of 1989, the Children’s Clinic opened the Pediatric Medical Program (Primary Care) in the City of Watertown. Pediatricians and nurse practitioners see patients, from birth to 21 years, for wellness, common childhood illnesses and injuries, regardless of a families’ ability to pay. Children’s Clinic pediatricians have been on staff at Samaritan Medical Center since 1995, to provide inpatient care. Parents and guardians of Children’s Clinic patients have 24-hour access to medical staff through the "on call" system. Appointments are available seven days a week, including regular evening and weekend hours. Expanded hours ensure that parents don’t need to take time off from work and don’t have to visit the hospital emergency rooms for primary care needs. The New York State Department of Health, the New York State Legislature, and the Northern New York Community Foundation provided start-up funds for the Watertown Primary Care Program.

On May 6, 1991, the Children’s Clinic opened its first dental clinic at the Mercy Care Center in Watertown, designed to serve the low-income population in the northern counties of New York State. In January of 1994, the NCCC Watertown Dental Program opened a school-based site at Watertown High School. This was the first program in NY State to have a part-time dentist on-site to provide treatment and preventive care. A dental hygienist is also available for preventive care. Start-up funds for this program came from the E.J. Noble Foundation and in-kind donations from the Watertown School District. Staff opened the NCCC Dental Program in downtown Ogdensburg in August 1994. The NYS Department of Health, United Helpers, Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities, Travelers Foundation, Corning Foundation, NYNEX Foundation, and Chase Manhattan Foundation were the major donors of start-up funds for this project. In 1999 and 2000, the Children’s Clinic raised $77,000 for the start-up and operation of a dental clinic in the Village of Lowville. Lewis County Public Health, the Lewis County Legislature, the Pratt Northam Foundation and the Northern New York Community Foundation awarded these funds. The Lowville Clinic opened on July 6, 2000. The Children’s Clinic dental programs employ NYS licensed dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants at each site.

In October 1993, the Children’s Clinic added Mental Health counseling to the services available to our Primary Care patients in Watertown. A Clinical Psychologist works closely with medical staff to ensure the best possible outcome for patients.

In 1995, children from fourth through sixth grades became eligible for care at the North Elementary site. The NYS Primary Care Initiative Grant, in-kind donations from the Watertown City School district, Northern New York Community Foundation, and private donations provided start-up funds for this program. In the fall of 1996, we opened our second school-based health center at Watertown High School.

In April 1997, we opened our third school-based health center at Case Junior High School with start up funds from the Northern New York Community Foundation. In December 2002, the Children’s Clinic opened a fourth school-based health center at the H.T. Wiley School. At the same time, staff moved the school-based Dental Clinic from overcrowded space at the high school to Wiley to better serve student body. All SBHC’s are staff by nurse practitioners, who work under the supervision of our pediatricians, and support staff. Students must be enrolled in the school based health program to utilize the clinics.

Since 1992 the agency's revenue has increased by 100% and we have added over 50 new jobs. In 2004 our programs served over 28,000 children and families in our service area. The financial impact on our service area is greater than $22 million. After years of planning, the Children’s Clinic bought the property at 238 Arsenal Street, Watertown, to house its community-based programs and administration after renovations and some new construction. Board, staff, and volunteers raised $2.2 million of the $2.8 million in project costs as of early 2005.Board, staff, and volunteers have exceeded the original Building for Healthy Tomorrows campaign goal of $2 million toward project costs of $2.8 million.  Additional donations and grants are needed to help close the gap.

In mid-October, the Children’s Clinic’s community-based programs moved from Empsall Plaza and Mercy Care to their new permanent home at 238 Arsenal Street, Watertown.  The celebrations began with a sneak peek for donors on October 20, 2005, followed by the official grand opening and ribbon cutting on October 27.  An open house was held Saturday, October 29, where kids and their families toured the new program spaces, listen to stories read by Mother Goose, and meet the Children’s Clinic’s new mascot “Twinkle”.  Twinkle evolved from the Children’s Clinic’s new logo and the donor recognition mobile featuring stars and planets that hangs above the central check-in area.  A coloring and activity book was written and illustrated by staff and friends of the Children’s Clinic to introduce our new building and Twinkle to our patients.  Twinkle was very well-received and the mobile has made a big hit with young and old alike.