History
The House of the Good Shepherd started when a small group of concerned men and women gathered on February 8, 1872, to discuss the growing number of orphans and the disruption of family life during the post-Civil War period. Since then, The House of the Good Shepherd has grown and evolved into a Sanctuary Certified Institution - less than 50 in the world. The House continues its historical commitment to address the needs of children, their families, and the community.
The House of the Good Shepherd has grown and evolved into a Sanctuary Certified Institution - less than 50 in the world.
Members of the Trinity Episcopal Church gather together to establish an Asylum for children in Central NY, to be called The House of the Good Shepherd.
The first two children receive care at a rented house on the corner of Blandina Street and Kossuth Avenue.
The House purchases and remodels a building located on Bleecker and East Street (Now Tilden Avenue.)
A magnificent three-story structure located at 1700 Genesee Street is built on property donated by Mr. & Mrs. Thomas R. Proctor.
The House purchases its first 8 of 27 acres, located on Champlin Avenue in Utica. The main campus starts taking shape with four cottages and a multiservice building.
Now known as Tilton School, education is provided with one classroom and one teacher.
The first of five Group Homes are established off-campus, in the local community for adolescent teens.
The Foster Care Program is launched, establishing the 1st set of Foster Homes for children.
Tilton School grows and expands special education to community children not living on campus, referred to as the Day Services Program.
A Therapeutic Foster Care Program opens in Watertown, NY, meeting the needs of foster children with emotional and social problems.
A Capital Campaign makes it possible to add 11,000 sq. Ft. for a “Developmental Wing” to Tilton School. All four cottages on campus are updated and improved.
A Residential Treatment Facility, now known as the Schafer Residence, is built on campus to provide psychiatric care to children who have a severe mental illness. The House earns agency-wide Joint Commission accreditation.
Milton Abelove Children’s Center is built to provide short-term, emergency, residential placement for children in crisis, or awaiting formal placement.
The House earns its Sanctuary Certification from the Sanctuary Institute and provides Foster Care services to all of Oneida County.
The Foster Care Program and Community-Based Services move from 133 N. Genesee Street to a newly renovated building on 17 Herkimer Road, Utica.
The MACS building undergoes a renovation to meet the standards to serve children ages 16-18 in the Juvenile Justice System, meeting NY State’s new “Raise the Age” law initiative.
