Our Story: How We’re Changing Children’s Lives
The House of the Good Shepherd was founded in 1872 in Utica, New York to help meet the needs of local children and families. Since then, The House has evolved with the changing child welfare system. We have grown into a comprehensive human service agency providing treatment to more than 600 children and their families a year.
Our goal is to help children and families, who are struggling with serious emotional, social and behavioral problems, discover their ability to succeed. Children and families who arrive at The House often have exhausted every available option for remaining together.
Our main location is on a 27-acre campus at 1550 Champlin Avenue in Utica, New York. The House currently employs 400 full- and part-time staff and has more than 200 volunteers and student interns.
The House of the Good Shepherd is classified as a non-sectarian, non-profit corporation, and is designated as a 501(c)3 charitable institution. We provide services without regard to ethnicity, religion, or financial status.
The House is certified by the Joint Commission, a national evaluator that sets high performance standards for healthcare organizations. In addition, we are licensed by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, the New York State Education Department, and the New York State Office of Mental Health.
How We Help the Community
The House protects children, preserves families, and prepares young people for productive lives in the community. These are vital outcomes that impact the quality of life for everyone. Outcomes are measured and tracked through a variety of methods, including satisfaction surveys for children, and the nationally used Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) to rate changes in children’s behaviors.
Children at The House
Each day there are more than 360 children in our care, and approximately 70% are from Oneida County. The House contracts with 20 counties throughout New York State, bounded by Albany, Watertown, Syracuse and Binghamton.
Children at The House can range in age from infant to 21 years old, with an average age of 14. Approximately one-third of the children are girls and two-thirds are boys.
How Do Children Arrive at The House?
Children typically arrive at The House through referral sources such as county social service departments, mental health departments, school districts, family courts, or other agencies that work with children and families.
For more information on The House of the Good Shepherd, please call (315) 235-7600.
