The Roxbury District Court Child Care Center was the first court-affiliated drop-in care center in New England for families who must bring their children with them when they have court business. Roxbury District Court Judge Julian T. Houston, now a Superior Court judge, worked for four years to bring his idea of such a center to fruition in May 1989. Parents with court business and no child care arrangements or with children waiting to appear in court proceedings can use the center free of charge. Initial funding for the center start-up and space renovation came from public and private sources, including Bank of Boston. Associated Day Care Services of Metropolitan Boston developed and now operates the center, located in the Dudley Branch Library, with Massachusetts Department of Social Services and United Way funds.