“Children’s Friend is made up of people who really care enough to make a difference in the lives of children and families – not only for clients, but for staff members, too. In everything we do, the atmosphere is truly warm and caring.”
- Helen Landry, Director of Finance
Improving the lives of children and those who love them in CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS since 1849.
History
In 1849, we opened our doors at Children’s Friend as “The Worcester Children’s Friend Society,” a small charity caring for orphaned, abandoned and neglected children. In 1851, our organization helped draft the first modern adoption legislation in the nation – a bill adopted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Later, we became a founding member of the Child Welfare League of America and the Children’s League of Massachusetts. As needs changed and decades passed, we continued our work advocating for vulnerable children, and by the early 1940’s we had pioneered a home for children awaiting foster care. In 1981, we became one of the first agencies in the state to be licensed as a child and family mental health clinic. Today, Children’s Friend is working harder than ever to provide the highest quality services to children and those who love them.
Our Current Services
Our clients are children and families whose lives have been affected by difficulties including abuse, neglect, family instability, death, substance abuse, and mental, emotional and physical problems. We help them through the provision of the highest quality of services designed to meet the mental and emotional needs of children and strengthen families. Children’s Friend provides:
- high-level professional mental health services
- adoption and related services
- training and education, including parenting skills that enable young parents to nurture their children appropriately
- early childhood education
- grief support
- These services are provided through our four major programs:
- The Carriage House, A Center for Grieving Children and Families
- The Ellsworth Child and Family Counseling Center
- Adoption and Family Services
- School Age Mothers (SAM) Program
