History
The Children's Study Home Inc. was originally founded in April of 1865 as The Springfield Home for Friendless Women and Children, Inc. This organization was one of the first social service agencies in Massachusetts and was started by a broad group of religious leaders 'to provide a temporary home for friendless and destitute women and children; and to give them employment and instruction with the ultimate design of providing for them a more permanent situation, or of fitting them to maintain themselves.' (Agency Constitution, 1865)
From this design as a charitable organization, a group of volunteers built an ever-changing agency that has devoted more than 140 years to the task of solving problems for troubled populations in our community. As the agency grew and needs changed, the organization became more focused on services to children. In the 1940s the agency became known as The Children's Study Home to reflect the diagnostic and treatment work we pioneered for children with emotional and behavioral problems. Our staff continues to be recognized for this expertise today, and this work provided a foundation for continued growth as an organization.
By the 1970s the agency added a variety of services to children and their families and soon purchased what has become our Mill Pond Campus focused on adolescents in the same manner as our Sherman Street facility treats latency-aged children. The Children's Study Home has added a wide range of services, expanding both geography and variety. Today, The Children's Study Home Inc. continues to be a charitable organization devoted to identifying and solving child and family problems for our community. We offer a continuum of services designed to provide positive interventions to youth and families in our care, and we look forward to an ever-changing set of strategies that keep us productive in our mission.
A full history of the agency is available on request. Click Contact Us to complete a form for more information.