Agency Details:

To strengthen families and promote the well-being of children through prevention, intervention, education and advocacy.

Description:
Child & Family Services is one of Western New York’s oldest human service agencies, having worked to foster safe and healthy environments for children and families in local homes, schools, workplaces and communities for 129 years. Child & Family Services is also one of the largest family agencies in the nation and is recognized as a national leader in innovative programming and services.
We provide children, adults, families and businesses with a vast array of mental health and human service programs including: family counseling, family mental health services, preventive services; foster care, special needs adoption and after-hours protective services; residential treatment services for youth; special education programs; domestic violence prevention, treatment and intervention services; employee assistance programs; senior services; AIDS programs; and family/auto loan programs.

History:
A Thanksgiving Dinner hosted in 1872 by Millard Fillmore and William Pryor Letchworth for 180 newsboys and bootblacks focused attention on the ragged urchins roving Buffalo’s streets and led to the formation of the Buffalo City Children’s Aid society in January 1873. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children was incorporated in Buffalo in 1876 and the Erie County S.P.C.C. in 1877. Such societies were authorized by New York State Law in 1875 to investigate and prosecute wrongs done to children. The two local S.P.C.C.’s merged in 1878. Mutual concern for children and similarity of purpose led to the merger of the Children’s Aid and S.P.C.C. of Erie County in 1916.

The Family Services Society, originally established as the Charity Organization Society in 1877, was the first city-wide charitable organization in the United States. As emphasis changed to service to families, the agency was instrumental in forming the Family Service Association of America and hosted its first meeting. Nationally and locally it has helped to develop the trend in the field of family services from emphasis on providing relief, to professional counseling on family relationships. Throughout its history, the Society has been instrumental in establishing new health and welfare agencies in response to community need. The history of many of those serving today is intertwined with that of the Family Service Society.

Those two pioneer social agencies in Buffalo took part in the formation of the first joint fund raising effort in 1917, Joint Charities (United Fund) and the creation of the Council of Social Agencies (Research and Planning Council) in 1922. They have had a tremendous influence in the development of social work as a professional service. Their first paid staff members worked more as “agents” checking on financial need or investigating reports of child neglect. As their understanding of the causes of poverty and child neglect developed, their services changed to offer treatment through trained social workers. Both agencies were instrumental in 1926 in having the University of Buffalo include more courses in social work subjects, and the establishment of the School of Social Work as a graduate school in 1936.

Both agencies, through the years, have worked closely with public agencies, often “lending” their executives and other staff members to governmental agencies. They have consistently supported legislation designed to improve family life and the welfare of children, and have helped to create new agencies, both public and private. Their rich history reflects significant contribution in services, in leadership and in cooperation with others in adequately meeting the social needs of this community.

Both societies had essentially the same goal - that children might grow up to be healthy, happy, useful citizens.

The Family Service Society directed its attention to better family life in the belief that a true democracy is fashioned by the individual citizens of which it is composed and that the individual citizen is responsible or irresponsible according to his experience in the family unit.

The Children’s Aid Society has been concerned with defending the rights of children, giving them the opportunity to become responsible citizens, protecting them from abuse, neglect and exploitation, and providing care for those whose families were unable to do so.

Both societies have recognized the importance of wholesome family life, the importance of community conditions which make it possible, and the need for leadership in bringing about change when conditions were destructive to their goals.

The history of each society, and their predecessors, is replete with “firsts” in services, community action and dedication of volunteers and staff. The roster of volunteer leadership includes names well-known in the history of Buffalo, and their professional staff members have been honored by the community for their contributions. Volunteers include Ansley Wilcox, George P. Sawyer, Maria M. Love, Millard Fillmore, William Pryor Letchworth, Millard S. Burns, Dexter P. Rumsey and Mrs. Helen Thornton Campbell. Professional staff members who contributed so much to the progress of the agencies and social work were Conrad Mainecke, Douglas P. Falconer and Miss E. Marguerite Gane, for the Children’s Aid Society, and Frederick Almy, David C. Adie, Mrs. Anna B. Fox and Archie W. Swanson for the Family Service Society.

The societies were waging a war on poverty and defending civil rights almost 100 years before these became popular causes. Their record of accomplishment is too lengthy for a short summary. The attached lists include only the highlights of a century of service.

It can be anticipated that the merger of these two venerable social agencies which have been dedicated to the health and welfare of this community will result in the blending of the best of each, and the use of their tremendous resources and skills to the betterment of the communities to be served. The combination of rich tradition, a demonstrated ability to keep up with the times, leadership in developing new ways to meet social needs, and their constancy in pursing their goal augurs well for this oldest, yet newest social agency, and more importantly for the members of the community who will benefit directly. Child and Family Services will continue to fortify family life in Buffalo and Erie County.

Contact person: Laurie Schaller, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Address:

844 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 14209 (See a map)

Directions:

844 Delaware Avenue is between Bryant and Summer Streets, in the City of Buffalo.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Best Street,   Walk distance (in minutes): 5   Nearest Bus Stop: Delaware / Barker, 1 minute walk