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. 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 receive licensing as a children’s mental health clinic.
Today, Children’s Friend is working harder than ever to
provide the highest quality of services for children and those
who love them.
Our Current Services
Our clients are children and families whose lives have been affected
by difficulties including abuse and neglect, substance abuse,
family instability, economic hardship, 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:
