About|Programs|Values

A Long Term Commitment to the Well-being of Children and Families

Since 1887, when it was incorporated as the Union for Home Work, Berkshire Children and Families has been a stable source of support for our communities, providing early education and care, parenting and family skill-building, and foster care and adoption services.

In the early 1900's and during the Great Depression, the agency and its focus evolved in response to society's changing needs. In the 1950's, three agencies – The Association for Family Services, The New England Home for Little Wanderers and the Pittsfield Day Nursery – merged to become one agency. In 1974, the name was changed to Berkshire Center for Families and Children. Children's Aid and Family Service of Northampton, MA, (now located in Hadley) founded in 1910, merged with BCF in 2006, creating Berkshire Children and Families, Inc.

Throughout its history, BCF has been sensitive and responsive to the needs of children and families. Just as importantly, it has been a leader, showing the way forward with innovative services, effective collaborations, and system development ideas that have made BCF a highly regarded organization locally, regionally and statewide.

Funded by a variety of sources – including Berkshire United Way, the United Way of Hampshire County, Northern Berkshire United Way, the Williamstown Community Chest, state agencies and hundreds of private and corporate donors – BCF's programs are locally-based initiatives developed to meet community needs.