History

The Vermont Children's Aid Society came into being as a direct result of a disaster, the influenza epidemic of 1918-1919.  In the Fall of 1918, the Boston office of the American Red Cross offered to survey the needs of Vermont children due to the epidemic.  Ms. Sybil Pease of Burlington, a graduate of Simmons School of Social Work, was engaged to make the study.  Ms. Pease spent three months in Vermont in the winter of 1918-1919, during which time she visited 197 towns and citites, interviewed town officials, physicians, teachers, clergymen and other interested persons.  The situation discovered by Ms. Pease was deemed to be so urgent that a special meeting of the Vermont Conference of Social Work was called uto hear the report and plan for "a temporary association of child care."

The Burlington Free Press carried the report on Apirl 3, 1919 of the founding of the society on April 2.  The report notes that "a group of the State's most promient social and philanthropic workers" met in the roof garden at the Hotel Vermont.  The sentiment was to make all haste in the organization on account of the dire need of it at present."

On April 21, 1919 the Articles of Association of the Vermont Children's Aid Society, Inc. for the purpose of engaging in social service activities of prevention, relief and remedy designed to safeguard the welfare of minors, were filed and recorded in Montpelier.  Article (2) of the by-laws illustrates the wisdom of the incorporators and their modern conception of child welfare, when they laid out what the society "shall conern itself with":

1. The study of the condition of dependent, neglected and delinquent children in Vermont
2. The informing of the public regarding conditions disccovered
3. The relief and remedy of evil or undesirable conditions
4. The preservation of wholesome family groups
5. The cooperation in all practicable ways with all agencies and officials engaged in work affecting children and the home
6. And, in general, the carrying on of such work of prention, relief and remedy as will safeguard the welfare of minors and of the home.

In 1920, the Society joined the Bureau for Exchange of Information, which in 1920 was expanded into the Child Welfare League of America, of which the Vermont Children's Aid Society was a charter member. 

Since then, we have continued to grow, expand, and find new ways to serve our communities’ children and families.

We support and strengthen families by providing services that address adoption, foster care, transition and change issues, guardianship, kinship care and parent incarceration. Our professional social work staff works together with families and children to help sort out these challenges and provide necessary supports to help families grow strong.

Mission

Core Values

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2. VCAS acts with Respect for our Clients, Community and Colleagues.
3. VCAS promotes Individual Empowerment.
4. VCAS acts with Integrity and Excellence.
5. VCAS is committed to Social Justice and Equity.