Children's Home of Detroit
Formed by a group of concerned women on May 18, 1836, to counter the number of children left homeless in Detroit by a recent cholera epidemic, the Protestant Orphan’s Asylum has served thousands of youth in the eastern regions of the Detroit metropolitan area. Thirteen civic-minded women met at the Presbyterian Church to organize committees and set forth on this new venture. Moving into a rent-free space on Antoine Street February 1, 1837, the Asylum accepted 7 orphans with Mrs. Mary Chambers as the first Matron. In November of that year the home moved to a building on Fort Street and began the process of raising funds to build a new structure on a land gift located on Jefferson Avenue. The Asylum moved to their new building in 1840. Care of orphans and homeless waifs continued until lack of funds and children to care for allowed for the suspension of services from 1849 through 1852. Funds were raised and again the doors opened for needy children at that time. In 1932, after many years of steady operation, the Protestant Orphan’s Asylum changed their official title to the Protestant Children’s Home of Detroit. The health, nutrition, religious and educational needs of children were satisfied, whether they were orphan’s or of some other family situation. The board wanted to reflect in their name that the home was serving children of all needs, not only orphans, as in the past.
The Children’s Home of Detroit has had a profound impact on the lives of children for 172 years, and now its legacy will continue on through Starr Commonwealth.In November 2008, Children’s Home of Detroit (CHD) closed its residential program. Because of Starr Commonwealth's excellent reputation and nearly 100-year history of service to children and families, the CHD Board of Trustees voted to transfer the organization’s Grosse Pointe Woods and Warren campuses to Starr.
Along with specialized residential services for at-risk youth, CHD also operated The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children (TLC), which will continue to operate as program of the Starr Institute of Training with its Director, Dr. Bill Steele, overseeing operations.
The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children (TLC) is the only program of its kind in the country that trains school and agency professionals who work with children, youth and families traumatized by violent or non-violent incidents. Its certification programs, conferences, books and videotapes instruct thousands of professionals every year in the use of TLC's trauma-specific interventions.
With more than 40 years experience working with at-risk youth, Dr. Steele is highly regarded and well-respected in the field. Steele's trainings, intervention programs and research speak to his focus on excellence in outcomes related to assisting troubled children. With degrees in education, social work and psychology, he has long insisted that it is the responsibility of the childcare field to be flexible in its efforts to help children, as there is no one intervention that fits every child. He is quick to add that this responsibility extends to providing evidence-based documentation.
Starr Commonwealth is proud to be elected to carry on the rich mission and legacy of CHD. We are carefully considering how to best use the CHD assets in service to children and families and expect to creatively and positively continue the rich traditions of Children's Home of Detroit.