The First 50 Years
1959: Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County opens its office on May 1 offering free counseling and adoption services.
- Marguerite Parrish is named Executive Director
1961: CSSW becomes a United Way agency
1964: More than 1,000 families served
1967: Ypsilanti office at St. John’s Parish opens
1970: Emergency Foster Care for Runaway Teens is developed with Ozone House
1971: CSSW collaborates with other agencies to open SOS Crisis Center
1972: Agency becomes part of the Diocese of Lansing
1973: Retired and Senior Volunteer Program established in Washtenaw County
- John Hayes becomes 2nd Executive Director
- 700th child is placed in an adoptive family home
1976: Emergency Food Program begins
1978: John Martin becomes CSSW’s third President
1979: CSSW establishes Parent Aide Program
1983: Parish Outreach begins offering pre-marriage preparation classes
1986: CSSW hosts first “After Hours” fundraising event
1987: Alternatives to Domestic Aggression (ADA) program started
1988: CSSW begins offering Families First services in Washtenaw and Jackson counties
1992: The Marnee & John DeVine Foundation established as CSSW fundraising entity
1993: Grandparents as Parents program begins
1995: Healthy Families Program established
1996: CSSW moves home office to Packard Rd. location
- DeVine Foundation presents first “Fall Festival of Music” fundraising gala
1997: Lawrence Voight appointed fourth CSSW President
1998: CSSW begins offering Families First services in Hillsdale and Branch Counties
2000: DeVine Foundation reaches $1 million endowment goal
2001: Housing Support Services program begins
2002: Father Patrick Jackson House Program becomes a program of CSSW
2004: As the lead agency and fiduciary for Blueprint for Aging, CSSW is awarded major grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
2005: CSSW collaborates with governmental agencies to establish the Washtenaw Child Advocacy Center (WCAC)
- ADA starts “Expanding Options” program for adolescent males
2006: Intentional Communities of Washtenaw (ICW) program begins
- WCAC opens new offices in Ypsilanti
- CSSW named fiduciary of the Washtenaw Michigan Prisoner ReEntry Initiative
2007: Teen Parent Drop-In Nights begin, hosted by Fr. Pat’s and Healthy Families
- ADA starts RENEW program designed for women who use force
- ADA begins offering No Mas for Spanish-speaking men
- CSSW accepts HelpSource counseling clients and assumes operation of its Adult Day Services and Supervised Parenting/Exchange programs
2008: WCAC begins offering medical exams
- Pregnancy Counseling and Adoption Services begin program for incarcerated mothers
- Parish Outreach begins collaborating with the local parishes on a migrant ministry program
2009: Father Patrick Jackson House celebrates its 25th Anniversary
- On May 1, CSSW celebrates 50 years serving Washtenaw County