Page 3 - The Privilege of Caring

Early Efforts to Care for for Dependent Children
Harriet Ware founder of the Providence Children’s Friend Society was born in in in in 1799 in in in in Paxton Massachusetts She started her her career as as as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a schoolteacher and was called in in in in in in in 1834 by a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a ladies’ church society in in in in in in in Providence to to assist in in in in in its work in in in in in India Point Miss Ware established a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Sunday School for for the the children and a a a a a a night school for the adults In 1835 she turned her attention to providing residential care for the the children and and and with the the the assistance of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a small group of of of women and and and Reverend Francis Wayland the the the fourth president of of of Brown University she she established the the Providence Children’s Friend Society The organization’s charter granted in in 1836 stated the the the purpose of of of the the the Society to be “for the the the the support and and education of of of of indigent children of of of of both sexes not otherwise provided provided for for for and and and who for for for want of of of paternal care are are in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a suffering and and and dangerous condition ” The Children’s Friend Home provided provided children with a a a a a a a a a a a a a much better alternative than being placed at at at city and and and town poor farms Children
were were educated in in in the Home and and when old enough were were placed with private families Miss Ware served as as superintendent of the the Society’s home for for children until illness forced her her to to assign those duties to others She died on June 26 1847 Harriet Ware - Founder of The Providence Children’s Friend Society 1950
Providence Tuberculosis League transfers ownership of its Lakeside property to CF&S for residential programs 1963
State takes responsibility for child protective work a a responsibility of private agencies since 1882 1990
CF&S moves to current location on on Summer Street in in Providence Providence later adds other locations in in Providence Providence Central Falls and Pawtucket 2006
CF&S forms Rhode Island Early Childhood Investment Council 1955
1969
Transforms Lakeside from an an emergency program to a a a a a a residential facility for emotionally disturbed children It closes in 1981 1994
CF&S merges with Rhode Island Children
At-Risk an an an agency that focuses on preventing abuse and strengthening families 2008
2009
Agency celebrates 175 years of service to the community New Lakeside Home a a modern one-floor building is dedicated for the purpose of a a a statewide emergency shelter 17 513 children families and child child care professionals benefit from services 2