ABOUT US

MISSION
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OVERVIEW
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HISTORY
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CSC PRIVACY NOTICE
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CSC PRIVACY BROCHURE
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
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Brief History

Children's Service Center of Wyoming Valley, Inc. is a diagnostic and treatment center for children and adolescents with emotional disturbance, severe and persistent mental illness, and pervasive developmental disorders, including autism. It also serves children with developmental disabilities.

The center has deeply entrenched community roots in northeastern Pennsylvania dating back to the 1860s. Incorporated in 1862 as the Home for Friendless Children, the benevolent founders of this organization created a sanctuary in order to provide shelter, food, and instruction to a number of destitute children in the Wyoming Valley. With the Civil War raging during the same time, a shelter for many soldier's orphans was gravely needed and the "Home" in Wilkes-Barre graciously opened its doors providing warmth, safety, and security for these children ravaged by war.

The "Home" continued to attract wide attention both locally and abroad. As its programs grew and developed, it became a nationally renowned shelter and educational center for infants and children. By 1929, the Home for Friendless Children had become the Children's Home, which continued to coordinate services for the children of the Wyoming Valley.

As time went on, it appeared that the children needed more than just "shelter," a home. Some of them had severe behavioral problems and needed psychiatric care. This resulted in two cottages being built, the Martha Bennet Home and the Children's Home. These were the first two open psychiatric residential settings for children in North America. They treated children not only from the area, but also those from other states and countries. It was at about the same time that the Martha Bennet Estate and Children's Home Foundation requested that a newly formed organization - Children's Service Center - be established to manage and oversee the program. The creation of Children's Service Center occurred in 1938.

Dr. Milford E. Barnes succeeded Dr. Frank Robinson as Director of the Center. He was particularly helpful in the Center's response to the Pennsylvania MH/MR Act of 1966, making it possible for the center to become a comprehensive mental health center for children and adolescents. Joseph DeVizia, its former president, Dr. James Feussner, former Medical Director, and Dr. Cyril Puhalla, former Medical Director, undertook a major expansion of services, particularly collaborating with schools, families, and other community agencies. With the needs of children becoming increasingly complicated in an environment of major change in health care and welfare reform, the Center is faced with the challenge of providing quality services to children in a timely manner. In 1998-99 Children's Service Center provided services to approximately 6500 individuals.

The Children's Service Center and its predecessor bodies has been committed to the needs of children and adolescents for over 140 years. Even deeper is its commitment to the emotional needs of children, adolescents, and families who require high quality services designed to meet the times in which we live. The expansion of services continues now offering Adoption Services and a 52-bed Residential Treatment Facilty. Children's Service Center is part of the Luzerne/Wyoming County MH/MR Program and is United Way agency.