Contact Information

400 West Market Street, York, PA 17401

Phone: (717) 845-5771

Fax: (717) 852-7605

Interim Executive Director: Jan Zeigler

Our Mission

The children's Aid Society helps children and their families build stronger, healthier lives through benevolent and professional services.

History

In 1913, Children's Aid Society (CAS) was organized in the home of Sudie Mae Wingert of Waynesboro as an outreach of the Southern Pennsylvania District Church of the Brethren that promoted rescuing neglected, dependent and orphaned children. CAS began offering foster care services and opened a home in Carlisle, PA. Children’s Aid Society adapted its focus to concentrate on meeting the emotional needs of children as well as their immediate physical needs. Through the dedication and contributions of many loyal supporters, especially devoted people of faith, Children’s Aid Society has been able to open and operate three centers that address child welfare and child-parent relationships.

Our Core Values

• Children are not just the hope of our future, but an important part of our present society.
• The gifts of all children should be nurtured and also cherished.
• Children and families with added stressors and issues need additional help and support.
• Early intervention and prevention will enable children to become healthier and happier adults.
• Respect will be an essential in interpersonal communication among staff, board and all customers.

Special Projects

Centennial Photo History

To commemorate the first 100 years of Children’s Aid Society’s service to children, Theresa Eshbach has compiled a pictorial history of CAS – Centennial Photo History. Tracing the history of Children’s Aid Society, Southern Pennsylvania District Church of the Brethren, from the annual conference where delegates created the organization until its 100 year anniversary, the book provides a photographic journey of mission in service.

The Children’s Garden

The concept of the Children’s Aid Society’s Children’s Garden grew out of a vision shared by staff and board members of creating a space that would honor our legacy and the children we serve. The garden area in front of The Nicarry Center, home to our administrative offices as well as being a center for providing services, was a natural fit. This area was modestly landscaped and served as a pleasant street front but it was not interactive or engaging.The Children’s Garden now provides a peaceful place for children and parents to spend a minute or two as they arrive at The Nicarry Center for therapy, parent support groups, or to receive clothing from God’s Closet. It also provides visitors to the center with an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and reflect on the history of our community. An area set off to one side includes a small waterfall and is designed for children to explore and play.

Healing Garden

The Healing Garden, located at the Nicarry Center, opened on February 28, 2014. The greenhouse provides therapists with an additional therapeutic environment that is particularly suited to working with children who have experienced loss. Planting seeds and watching them grow helps children to have a sense of continuity and renewal.

Children’s Aid Society art therapist Ashley Hines shows some of the projects that children have started in the Healing Garden.

The greenhouse is a reality because of the generosity of the J. William Warehime Foundation. This thoughtful gift will help many children heal for many years to come.

Our Services

• Crisis Nursery, The crisis Nursery supports families that otherwise have no support and a valuable asset to the York community area. We offer short term respite care (day/overnight), 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for children newborn through six years of age.
• Art, Play, & Child Centered Therapy, gives The children's Aid Society the opportunity to provide professional child-focused therapeutic services to children in York, Adams, and Franklin Counties. Our clinical staff (our family of therapists) has a wide diversity of specialized training, including play and art therapy, to meet the needs of children and adolescents. All of our therapists aim to help children and adolescents improve and enhance their ability to express themselves and to positively cope with their feelings. Individual therapy sessions take place in a safe, supportive, and confidential environment.
• Parent support Groups, These groups offer parents a comfortable location to talk about the stresses, anxieties and issues of parenting. Just having a place to talk about these things with other people who understand is very valuable. Groups meet in York and Men’s and Women’s York County Prison and are led by trained volunteer facilitators.
• 24-Hour Hotline, This hotline is available to parents and caregivers. Trained and caring staff listen, offer immediate support and help callers work through their crisis. The Staff provides callers with referrals to other community resources that will help resolve issues and provide additional support.

The hotline number is 800-635-6619.

Donate and Volunteer Today!

Many events also take place by The Children's Aid Society to support the works of helping children and families. The centers are Lehman, Francis Leiter and Nicarry. You can donate today by giving Your gifts of items such as art supplies, groceries, and diapers. You can volunteer by downloading and completing our Volunteer Application.