Established in 1891 as the Michigan arm of the American Education Aid Association,
The Michigan Children's Home Society (now Child and Family Services of Michigan, Inc.,
State Office) was founded by a small group of citizens with initiative and compassion for
the then numerous homeless and neglected children of Michigan.
Tracing its roots, Child and Family Services of Michigan had its earliest beginning
in 1883 in Illinois. Chicago Reverend Martin Van Arsdale was convinced that there was a
better way to provide for homeless children than through the orphanage or children's
home. He and his wife believed that every child was entitled to the security of a
family, home and the love of parents. They knew that good homes could be provided if the
right methods were found to bring children and childless homes together. As a result, the
American Educational Aid Association was founded, with the objective of developing a
solution to the child welfare issue.
Similar movements in other states resulted in the establishment of a Federation of
Aid Associations or Societies in Chicago. In 1891 Michigan became the fifth member, when
Dr. Amos Barlow of St. Joseph was appointed as the first Michigan superintendent of The
American Educational Aid Association (incorporated 1893). Since that time the agency
and/or its member agencies have been licensed annually to receive, care for and place
children in accordance with state law.
Joseph Watkins, having become interested in the purposes of the young agency,
donated two large lots on the outskirts of St. Joseph in Berrien County and in 1894 a receiving
home for children was built. Initially, all children were brought to the Receiving
Home to be cared for until permanent arrangements for their future could be made. The
ideals of this new organization became more sharply defined and, in 1895, its name was
changed to the Michigan Children's Home Society to better emphasize the non-institutional
nature of the program.
Since
that time the agency and/or its member agencies have been licensed annually to receive,
care for and place children in accordance with state law.

Chapin Hall - early 1920s
Growth of the Society paralleled the growth of social work
that followed World War One. Community funds were established in many Michigan cities, and
additional branches were organized in population centers where child welfare needs were
greatest. Between 1917 and 1920 new branches were established in Ann Arbor, Battle Creek,
Flint, Lansing, Marquette, Pontiac and Kalamazoo.
The establishment of each branch office was unique. No two branches were developed in the
same way, nor set up to provide exactly the same service. The major impetus for branch
development always came from leaders and forces within the local community. Each branch
had its own board of directors and an executive appointed by the State Superintendent.
Although the branches differed in their special needs, problems, and reasons for
establishment, all of them performed similar child welfare functions including:
The investigation of
child need cases
Foster care
Adoption
Supervision &
casework services to children in their own homes
In 1921, the name of the organization was changed from Michigan Children's Home
Society to Michigan Children's Aid Society in an effort to make even clearer to the public
that the word home in the title did not indicate institutional methods of child
care. The name change was to also emphasize the aid and reconstruction of
families that would enable the return of many children to their original homes.

In 1929, Fred R. Johnson succeeded Rev. Stoneman
as superintendent. Mr. Johnson, tenure of 25 years was a Society record, had the difficult
task of leading MCAS through the depression and the Second World War. During that time
staff and financial expenditures were drastically cut, while caseloads increased due to
the many problems of the time. New branches were established in Traverse City and Jackson
during Mr. Johnson's administration, which ended in 1953.
In the early years of the Society and prior to
the depression, the main source of operating funds came from memberships, contributions,
reimbursement for child care, community chests and county allocations. The depression
drastically affected these sources of income. However, the Children's Fund of Michigan,
founded by the Honorable James Couzens, took up much of the loss with an initial grant to
the Society in 1929 and continuing with substantial annual grants until dissolution of the
Fund in 1954. Several other funds and foundations, including the Rackham Fund and the W.K.
Kellogg Foundation, provided substantial support.
Robert Barstow became state director in 1953, one year before
the last grant from the Children's Fund was received. The agency's primary problem at that
time was financial and an application was made to the Michigan United Fund (MUF). The
first MUF allocation came in 1955 at which time, by agreement with MUF, the Society
withdrew from many local community chests. With this new pattern of financing, MUF was
asked to support MCAS services in seventy-five of Michigan's counties, while the seven
financially autonomous branches of MCAS relied on their local community chests. |
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Tracing
its roots, Child and Family Services of Michigan had its earliest beginning in 1883 in
Illinois.

Dedicated
to the conviction that a child's successful development depends upon loving family care,
adoption and foster care services were established as alternatives to orphanages.

Dr. Barlow retired as the superintendent in 1906 and was succeeded by Mrs. Cora
Lamping. Under the leadership of Mrs. Lamping, the young Society was kept keenly aware of
the negative effect even short-term institutional care had on children while they awaited
adoption placement. A system of boarding children with private families, accompanied by
frequent visits by social workers, was initiated so children could be given individual
care prior to permanent placement. Through this plan, the Society pioneered foster care in
Michigan. A few years later, in recognition of the benefits of keeping families together
whenever possible, the Society implemented a system of financial aid to parents and
relatives to help prevent separating children from their natural families.
Reverend Albert Stoneman succeeded Mrs.
Lamping as State Superintendent in 1913 and, prior to his resignation in 1929, guided the
Society through its greatest period of organization and expansion. To more effectively
promote the Society's work, branches were opened in 1913 in Detroit and Grand Rapids. In
1916 a new headquarters and receiving building was dedicated in St. Joseph, made possible
by a $20,000 bequest from Charles A. Chapin formerly of Niles and for many years a
benefactor of the Society. Later known as Chapin Hall, the building was erected on
property previously donated by Mr. Chapin, and contained facilities for the
reception and temporary care of children, orthopedic surgical services, and the
administrative headquarters for the organization. Subsequently, and for many years, Chapin
Hall served as a group care facility for adolescent girls.

In 1921, the name of the organization was changed from
Michigan Children's Home Society to Michigan Children's Aid Society
As the Society's growth continued, and its
services to all sections of the state increased, the trustees found that for
administrative purposes the Chapin Hall headquarters was not located to the best
advantage. As a result, the main office was moved to Lansing in 1922, then to Detroit in
1926. In 1963 the headquarters moved to a property in Farmington donated by Edwin S.
George, and again relocated in 1973 to Brighton. In 1987 the agency moved to its current
location in Okemos. This new facility was dedicated to the memory of former Board
President, Walter S. McLean.
A
significant era in the Society's history ended in 1951 with the death of President Edwin
S. George.
Colonel George was an active trustee and
staunch supporter of the Society from its early years and was in his twenty-fifth year as
Society President at the time of his death.
It was at this time an extensive study
was undertaken by Myrtle R. Ruel with the backing of the Michigan United Fund and the
Michigan Welfare League. The study was significant in that it
integrated past history and development with an analysis of society's problems and needs
of the time.
Long
range growth projections and recommendations for the Society were made on the basis of the
study's data.
Beginning
in 1965, branch offices began merging with their local family service agencies. This
expanded the orientation of Child and Family Services of Michigan, Inc., to more of a
complete family concept.

Current Location, est. 1987
The State Office
of Child and Family Services of Michigan, Inc., is a key administrative resource for its
local community offices and is...
currently
the only private, statewide, child and family service agency in the nation. |