Pennsylvania Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Children
The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Children (which became known as the Philadelphia
Society to Protect Children from Cruelty) was chartered in
1877 as the eighth such chapter in America . The Society
worked to educate the public regarding the rights - or lack
thereof - of children, and to secure the passage of a law
under which the abuse of children could be prosecuted.
From its inception, the need for immediate temporary
shelter for children was recognized. Initially, placements
of children were made mostly with families who could provide
free board. A temporary shelter facility was obtained
in 1890 when the Society moved to 217 S. Broad Street .
In 1904 a larger house at 415 South 15th Street was purchased
and a shelter wing was added. A third story was added
in 1906. In 1909 the adjoining house at 419 South 15th
Street was purchased. PSSC's offices remain at 415 South
15 th Street today.
The Society maintained the roles of providing
protective investigatory services for child abuse and neglect,
offering counseling services to the families of these children
and providing the only emergency temporary shelter for children
in Philadelphia , for almost eighty years. Foster family
care services and adoption services were also provided.
In 1959, a state law was passed mandating the public county
agencies to assume primary responsibility for child protective
services. As of August, 1969 the Philadelphia Department
of Public Welfare opened its own emergency shelter for children
and the Society's shelter and foster homes were closed.
In 1969, the Society renewed its voluntary obligation
and developed a new, exploratory program, the Services
to Children in their Own Homes (SCOH) program geared to eliminate
the factors and conditions strongly associated with causing
the abuse and neglect of children. It operated solely
with private funding for ten years when in 1979, a contract
was negotiated with the Philadelphia Department of Public
Welfare and additional protective cases were assumed.
Recognizing a commonality of philosophy and
experience and the potential to again provide a full continuum
of services to children, the Inter-Church Child Care Society
and the Philadelphia Society to Protect Children began merger
exploration in May 1979 and by June 21, 1979 , both Board
s had approved further exploration. Consultations were
held with the Philadelphia Department of Public Welfare and
with the United Way for sanction and fund planning.
By January 1980, a plan of merger had been drawn up and approved
by the Board s of both agencies. The Inter-Church Child
Care Society building at 125 South 22nd Street was sold and
the merged agency was headquartered on South 15th Street .
The merger became fully effective on June 1, 1980 , and the
newly created agency became known as the Philadelphia
Society for Services to Children . |
