About Us

Children’s Aid and Family Services is one of northern New Jersey’s leading nonprofit providers of services that protect and support vulnerable children, adults and families. As an agency, we are focused on meeting ever-evolving social needs by expanding our programs to help members of the community live their best lives.
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Each year, our services make a profound and lasting difference to the thousands of individuals and families who turn to us for assistance. Whether we are working with a child seeking an adoptive family, teaching life skills to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, providing a neglected child with a therapeutic foster family, supplying nutritional formula and diapers to financially struggling families, educating a teen on the perils of substance abuse or providing support services for teen moms and their babies, we are helping to build futures for children and families in the communities we serve.

Our Mission

Children’s Aid and Family Services strengthens families and empowers individuals – children and adults alike – to reach their fullest potential. Motivated by compassion and in partnership with the community, we make positive lasting differences in the lives of those we serve. We provide high-quality, innovative services to children, adults, and their families that advance social, educational and emotional development and wellbeing.

History

For more than 120 years, Children’s Aid and Family Services (founded as Children’s Aid and Protective Society of the Oranges) has been changing lives. At its emergence in 1899, Children’s Aid was staffed entirely by volunteers, mostly concerned mothers who would ride in horse and carriage to rescue abandoned and orphaned children. What began as a group of caring citizens with a commitment to vulnerable children has grown into an organization that has placed more than 11,000 little ones with loving, nurturing adoptive families. At Children’s Aid, we believe, that each of us has the capacity to help make the world a better place. We are guided by Margaret Mead’s words: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Although our commitment to children remains strong, over the decades, we have merged with other organizations to rise up and meet the needs of the community as a whole. Below you will find a timeline of our rich history strengthening families and building strong communities.

1899

Children’s Aid and Protective Society of the Oranges was established. First official meeting of the board of directors was held February 9, 1899 in Orange, NJ.

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1945

Name was changed to Children’s Aid and Adoption Society (CAAS).

1956

Family Counseling Services of Ridgewood and Vicinity, Inc. was founded.

1965

The Depot, an all-volunteer gift store, was established to raise funds to benefit Family Counseling Services of Ridgewood and Vicinity, Inc.

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1973

Woodlea group home for adolescent girls was established in Ridgewood with the support of the Junior Women’s League of Bergen County.

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1995

Children’s Aid and Family Services was established, merging CAAS and Family Counseling Services of Ridgewood and Vicinity, Inc.

1998

Turrell Child Care & Early Learning Center and Children’s Services Center was opened in Paramus.

2005

The Baby Basics program was adopted from the American Red Cross by Children’s Aid and Family Services.

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2009

The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources became part of the Children’s Aid and Family Services’ family.

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2012

Our first community home for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities was opened in Fair Lawn.

2014

Zoe’s Place became part of the Children’s Aid family providing a safe, supervised home and supportive services for pregnant teens, and young moms and their babies, who would otherwise be homeless.

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2018

STRIVE day program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities was opened in Paramus

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2019

Baby Basics was expanded to serve more families in Essex County.

2019

The agency took over 8 community residences for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, helping even more vulnerable people. 

2023

The agency leads the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S Bergen) initiative to help address the youth mental health crisis.

2023

The agency becomes a statewide provider of Adoption Kinship Legal Guardianship (AKLG) clinical services to youth and pre- and post-adoptive and kinship families.

Children’s Aid and Family Services Today