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OUR STORY
108 YEARS OF SERVICE, A LIFETIME OF IMPACT
Serving the Community Since 1917!
It all began in 1917, when a pair of caring and visionary Methodist women came together to support children left orphaned by a devastating flu outbreak. Over the years, that small act of compassion grew into what we now know as MCHS Family of Services. Today, our campuses in Redford, Detroit, and Mayville, are a true home base for healing—with cozy cottages, on-site schools, accessible camps, outdoor recreation, and therapeutic programs all designed to help children, families, and older adults thrive
Through it all, our purpose has stayed the same: to create safe, supportive spaces where children, families, and older adults can feel seen, heard, and deeply cared for.
Scroll Through for Key Moments in Our History
1917 | Our Story Begins Here
During the Spanish Flu Pandemic, Anna Kresge and Sophie Sprague found Methodist Child Care, opening a Highland Park home for 10 orphaned children.
1922 | A Legacy of Leadership
Methodist Child Care moves to a larger farmhouse to care for 28 children. Frances Knight becomes the first Executive Director, serving until 1948.
1926 | New Name, Same Calling
Methodist Child Care changes its name to Methodist Children's Home Society and establishes an endowment of $250,000 laying the foundation for long-term impact.
1927 | The Power of Community
Thanks to the generosity of the Kresge Foundation, MCHS moves to its current location in Redford, purchasing 28 acres. Construction begins on the Children's Village.
1929 | Children's Village Opens
The Children's Village opens and begins accepting residents in June of 1929. The property consists of the administration building along with six cottages.
1947 | Continuing to Grow
MCHS purchases 52 acres of adjacent land, expanding its campus into a peaceful sanctuary where children in need can grow, heal, and thrive.
1989 | Foster Care Begins
MCHS begins its Foster Care program, supporting children from infancy to adolescence and touching thousands of lives along the way.
1995 | Additional Cottages Built
Through a successful capital campaign, MCHS built seven new residential cottages, creating a more home-like, supportive environment for the children in our care.
2014 | Introducing ILP
MCHS launches its Independent Living Services, providing critical support and life skills to youth aging out of the foster care system as they transition into adulthood.
2017 | 100 Years and Counting
MCHS proudly celebrates 100 years of serving Michigan's most vulnerable children and families—a century of hope, healing, and lasting impact.
2020 | Another New Chapter
MCHS opens Fosterling Leadership Academy, a public charter school in Redford focused on whole-child learning—supporting students’ academic, emotional, and social growth.
2020 | Intergenerational Work
MCHS launches the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companionship programs, connecting older adults with youth and peers for support and meaningful relationships.
2020 | Helping Homeless Moms
MCHS begins Teen Infant Parenting Services (TIPS), a transitional housing program in Detroit for homeless young mothers and their children.
2020 | Innovation and Progress
MCHS Residential Treatment becomes Michigan’s first restraint-free facility. We earn Crain’s Detroit Business “Best Managed Nonprofit” award for leadership during the Covid pandemic.
2021 | The Fowler Center
MCHS acquires the Fowler Center in Mayville, offering outdoor recreation for youth and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.
2021 | More Transitional Housing
MCHS opens its Pembroke campus in Detroit, providing emergency and transitional housing services to young people in need of stability and support.
2022 | This Is Family
MCHS officially changes its name from Methodist Children's Home Society to MCHS Family of Services to reflect its expanded mission and programs.
2022 | Supporting Refugee Youth
The Unaccompanied Children program officially launches, welcoming its first child and beginning its purpose to offer care and support to refugee children.
2023 | Helping Youth in Crisis
MCHS launches My Friend's Place, a transitional housing program, and My Safe Space, a crisis mental health program, to serve homeless youth in Detroit.
2024 | Expanding ILP
MCHS expands its Independent Living program to serve 20 youth aging out of foster care, providing support and skills for a successful transition to adulthood.
2024 | Introducing SIL
MCHS launches Supervised Independent Living (SIL), a transitional housing program supporting young adults as they work toward a brighter, more stable future.
