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Date: 1/31/2023
SPRINGFIELD – The 157-year-old Children’s Study Home has a new name which the agency believes better describes the role in plays in helping people.
The agency is now Helix Human Services. The new name came out of a seven-month strategic planning session.
The nonprofit agency’s executive director and CEO Will Davila explained the new name in a written statement. “More than a name change, our new brand captures our why. The resiliency captured in our brand means our purpose is still relevant after 157 years. We continue to work to restore normalcy in the lives of children and families who have been impacted by traumatic circumstances, Helix Human Services will do everything in its power to help make traumatized children, families and adults whole again. None of this work is possible without the help of legislators, educators, funder, community partners, volunteers and donors.”
On Jan. 25 in the offices of Merriam-Webster, the new name was announced. Davila was joined by John Morse, the president of the dictionary company and a longtime board member of the agency. Morse described the important relationship between the two entities. He said that in 1865, Rachel Capem Merriam, the wife of Charles Merriam, formed a group called the Springfield Home for Friendless Women and Children with the purpose of providing care, comfort and healing to destitute women and children orphaned by the Civil War.
Morse said the organization was unique for its time as it was founded and run by women. He added that over the years, the organization would “meet the shifting needs of society.”
Morse noted that by the 1930s children with emotional and behavioral problems were being helped by the organization with educational services and foster parent programs.
Today the agency operates The Mill Pond Schools in Springfield and the Berkshires, the Family Wellness Center in Holyoke, The Cottage Residential Program, the Sharp Residential Program, The START Enhanced Specialty Residential Program, The Family Reunification Support Program, Comprehensive Foster Care, Fathers in Trust, Family Assessment and Mentoring Service, Family Support Project. a Supervised Visitation Program and a Parent Education Program.
Julie Norton, a longtime employee, said the programs operated by the agency was “about the client’s breaking out of boxes. They don’t have to be defined by the experiences they survived.”
She added, “All that is changing is out name.”
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno attended the event and noting the surroundings said, “the word of the day today is ‘care.’” He added the organization is “near and dear place in my heart.”
For more information, go to https://helixhumanservices.org/programs/.