Child Welfare Association dissolves after nearly a century of service in Orleans County

Provided photo: From left seated include Janice McCloy, secretary; Sandra Tompkins, vice president; Christine Kinsey, president; and Amy Neal, treasurer. Back row: Rebecca Valentine, Barbara Lehning, Georgia Thomas and Shirley Bright-Neeper.

Press Release, Child Welfare Association of Orleans County

ALBION – The Child Welfare Association of Orleans County and its predecessor, the Orleans County State Charities Aid Association (SCAA) has been assisting children and families in Orleans county for about 100 years. It has been fully supported  through bequeathments and donations from the public.

Starting in 1925, representatives from every township met to determine how to help children and families struggling to meet basic needs.  Local churches and community groups had been assisting when they saw a need, but this was the first county-wide united effort. Through donations, they hired a part-time agent to help identify and assist those in dire need.

In 1929 as needs became more wide-spread and apparent, a new public welfare law was enacted and a county agent was hired. During these early years, the Child Welfare Association worked very closely with the county welfare agent who provided services directly to children in need.

The CWA provided annual teas for foster parents and gave them money each year to buy Christmas presents for foster children. They provided assistance in many other ways such as purchasing cribs and supplies, shoes and clothing, knitting baby clothes and blankets, paying for innoculations and dental care, providing money for text books, and college tuitions.

Beginning in the 1950s, The Journal-Register in Medina and the CWA began asking for donations to send children with financial need to the Salvation Army Camp Troutburg in Kendall. From this time until the mid-1990s when Camp Troutburg closed, hundreds of children had the opportunity to go to camp due to the CWA’s efforts. Since Camp Troutburg closed, the CWA has been providing camp scholarships to Camp Rainbow in Lyndonville where children enjoy a week of day camp.

The Child Welfare Association has provided college scholarships to students from all five school districts for more than 50 years. They also have provided stipends to school nurses, public health, and local libraries each year. Additionally they have given money to Community Action, the Ministry of Concern, Child and Family Services, and recently the Medina YMCA and local 4-H.

For many years, the CWA has not received nor solicited money from the public and funds have declined. In June of this year the CWA board voted to dissolve, giving remaining funds directly to the organizations it supports.

This will allow these organizations to have charge of the funds at an earlier time and gives them the advantage of deciding its best use. College scholarships will continue to be awarded by the local school districts for several more years. The remaining funds will be turned over to the ARC for Camp Rainbow.

“It is sad to see such a long-standing charity dissolve, but the time has come,” said Christine Kinsey, president. “We trust these other organizations know first-hand what the needs are and will carry on the good works that CWA has begun.”