About|History|Programmatic Overview

History

Since 1878, when it was incorporated as the Union for Home Work, Berkshire Children and Families has continually adapted to changing needs, offering broad assistance to local communities in early childhood education, parenting and family skill-building.

In the early 1900s and under New Deal programs of the Great Depression, the agency and its focus evolved, mainly in response to problems attending urbanization. In the 1950s, three agencies – The Association for Family Services; The New England Home for Little Wanderers; and The Pittsfield Day Nursery – merged to become one agency, and in 1974 the name was changed to Berkshire Center for Families and Children. Children’s Aid and Family Service merged with the organization last year, and now our programs serve thousands of families throughout Western Massachusetts.

Funded by a variety of sources – including United Way of Hampshire County; Berkshire United Way; Northern Berkshire United Way; the Williamstown Community Chest; state agencies; and hundreds of private and corporate donors – Berkshire Children and Families’ programs are all locally-based initiatives meeting local needs. Our commitment to nurturing relationships to improve the lives of children extends to the collaborations we seek with other agencies and community partners.