In the spring of 1978, Rachel Witten (now Whelan), a counselor at Putnam City North High School, and Jackie Lindblad (now Landler), a teacher at the school, decided that they were going to do something to help families deal with alcohol and drug problems. They volunteered to work through the summer in the alcohol treatment unit in Norman. This culminated in a meeting with the school board to request that drug and alcohol programs be developed for the students of Putnam City North and their families.  With the support of parents and school officials, they established the first Student Assistance Program.

Based on the Johnson Institute theory of recovery, the educators established a foundation, independent of the school, through which they could assist schools and communities across Oklahoma and the southwest.  On November 25, 1980, A Chance to Change, The Chemical Dependency Institute of Oklahoma, was incorporated. The organization was first housed in the high school, with counseling for students during the school day and their parents during the evenings.  At the end of the school year, A Chance to Change moved into the Christian Renewal Center (now known as the Catholic Archdiocese and Pastoral Center).  The staff grew and the education, prevention, and aftercare programs were developed.

In 1983, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recognized A Chance to Change with an award as an outstanding health promotion program.  The rest of the decade was filled with change, including a move to another location, change in management, and a new name, A Chance to Change Foundation.

In August 1989, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services recognized a Chance to Change as one of nine federally funded Area Prevention Resource Centers (APRC), assigned to the Putnam City school district and surrounding community. A Chance to Change also became a clearinghouse of chemical dependency information for communities across the state. The APRC grant provided the majority of funding necessary to conduct research based prevention programming to youth in the Putnam City area.

In 1990, A Chance to Change Foundation moved to its present location at 5228 Classen Circle.

A new Employee Assistance Program was launched in 1994. This program benefits employers and their employees by providing confidential counseling to employees and their families.  Services are provided to businesses and local governmental agencies in the greater Oklahoma City area and at other locations, both within the state and out of state.  A Chance to Change counselors help employees and their families with drug, alcohol, marital, family, financial, legal and other issues, including problems that may impact an employee's work performance.

In 1999, the HUGS (Help Us Grow Spiritually) program was added to serve children ages three to twelve years.

Staff research ACTC's history in Putnam City North yearbooks.

In 2003, the children's program became A Chance to Grow.   It serves children ages 5-12 and their families.  This program is designed to help children and their families deal with difficult issues such as trauma, divorce, grief, growing up in a home where there is alcoholism or addiction, and other concerns.

In 2004, the agency accepted, for the first time, government funding for clinical services, for the CONNECT program.  The pilot program was for adolescents with substance abuse issues.

In 2005, CARF awarded A Chance to Change a three-year accreditation.

In 2006, A Chance to Change received funding from Central Oklahoma United Way to provide substance abuse counseling for families with low incomes.

Also in 2006, the agency became certified to provide problem gambling treatment.

In 2007, the Inasmuch Foundation gave A Chance to Change their Special Recognition Award.  It reads:

The Inasmuch Foundation Special Recognition Award

 is presented to 

A Chance to Change Foundation 

            In 1994, a special award was created by the Inasmuch Foundation.  This award was established in recognition of excellence for the dedicated work of a director, staff members, or of an organization as a whole.  The recipients are selected according to the following criteria: 

• The agency or organization has worked consistently over a  long period of time to achieve the purposes for which it was founded.

• The agency or organization has made excellent use of sometimes limited resources.

• The agency or organization has shown leadership and sensitivity in developing new programs that meet new needs of the community.

• The agency or organization is not duplicating services or programs of others. 

            Whenever possible, the Inasmuch Foundation Special Recognition Award is given to an agency or organization that all too frequently is not recognized by others, the sometimes “unsung hero” in the world of philanthropy.  No proposals are solicited or accepted, but are recommended by the Inasmuch Advisory Committee for consideration at the annual Board of Directors meeting of the Foundation.  The Special Recognition Award is presented at an appropriate time in consideration of the agency’s or organization’s schedule.

The original vision of A Chance to Change remains intact.  Along with the treatment of chemical abuse and dependency problems, the vision has expanded to include outpatient counseling for other mental health problems, second stage recovery, as well as prevention and education programs.

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