Our History

1899 - Children's Aid and Protective Society of the Oranges established. First Official meeting of the board of directors held February 9, 1899, at 65 Essex Avenue, Orange, NJ.

1945 - Name changed to Children's Aid and Adoption Society (CAAS).

1952 - CAAS and the New Jersey Children's Home Society decide to divide coverage within the state, with CAAS focusing exclusively on Northern New Jersey.

1956 - Family Counseling Services of Ridgewood and Vicinity, Inc. founded.

1965 - The Depot established to raise funds to benefit Family Counseling Services.

1973 - Woodlea group home for adolescent girls established in Ridgewood with the support of the Junior Women’s League of Bergen County. The Child Development Center opens for business on January 3.

1974 - CAAS merges with the Sister Mary Eugene Foundation, Inc., effective April 26. Sister Mary Eugene's Bogota facility becomes CAAS main office. Eastlea group home for girls established at old main office in East Orange. Treatment Home program established.

1976 - Renaissance House group home for adolescent boys opens.

1979 - Southeast Asian Refugee Youth program created.

1983 - Mother/Child Treatment Home program created.

1984 - Post-Adoption Counseling Services begin.

1986 - Independent Living Program created. Morristown branch office opens.

1987 - The first Pre Adoptive Treatment Home, PATH I, for boys and girls, ages 5-12 opens. Mahwah office opens.

1990 - CAAS headquarters moves from Bogota to larger facilities, the Turrell Program Services Center at 575 Main Street, Hackensack.

1992 - The second Pre Adoptive Treatment Home, PATH II, opens for girls, ages 5-12. PATH I becomes a home for boys only.

1993 - Children's Haven group home, Paterson, merges with CAAS.

1995 - Children's Aid and Family Services founded, merging CAAS and Family Counseling Services of Ridgewood and Vicinity, Inc.

1996 - Boarder Babies program begins. Endowment Fund receives $500,000 anonymous challenge gift.

1997 - Endowment Fund grows to $1 million in gifts and commitments.

1998 - New Turrell Child Care and Early Learning Center and Children's Services Center opens at 200 Robin Road in Paramus. Second Century Circle Endowment Fund grows by another $1 million in gifts and commitments.

1999 - Centennial anniversary of Children's Aid and Family Services. Endowment Fund grows by another $3 million in gifts and commitments, reaching its first-phase target of $5 million.