Happy 90th Birthday Cayuga Counseling Services
Being a bit of a history nerd, I decided to peruse archives of the Auburn papers to learn more about the history of our agency.
Did you know that we were incorporated originally in 1921 as “The Associated Charities of Auburn?” Our original budget was about $6,000 all from private donors. The original offices consisted of a waiting area and one consultation room above the former H.R. Wait Store on Genesee Street. According to the incorporation document the purpose of Associated Charities of Auburn was “to secure from existing charitable and public agencies and individuals proper and adequate relief for deserving cases”, “to repress mendicancy by the above means and by prosecution of imposters”, “to prevent by all means, children growing up paupers” , “to investigate the cause of pauperism and poverty” and “to promote the general welfare of the poor by social and sanitary reform, and by inculcating habits of providence and self-dependence”. Among our original Board of Directors were many prominent Auburnians including Theodore Case, the eventual inventor of sound for motion pictures. The first caseworker, Mrs. Anne Doggett Linen, also served as the agency secretary. In 1922 she handled 191 cases for a total of 1348 interviews in homes and at the office. Now that’s productivity! Way to go Mrs. Linen!
In the early days before extensive government safety nets, the agency provided cash assistance to tide people over who had housing issues, unemployment or family problems. Our name was in fact changed in 1928 to “The Family Welfare Society of Auburn.” The agency provided milk to mothers, a listening ear and linkage to community resources. We dealt with problems ranging from “delinquent youth” to “derelict spouses” to parolees trying to better their lives. Our generosity at Christmas time had its antecedent in huge Yule parties for the area poor. For example in 1933, we sponsored a party at the Strand Theater for over 1700 children including entertainment and gifts.
In the 1930’s we were crucial in helping link individuals to needed medical services including getting treatment for tuberculosis and help with placements in a sanitarium. Additional funding came through the Community Chest (think Monopoly game) and later the United Fund, precursors to the United Way.
In 1945 our name was changed again to “Family Services of Auburn,” perhaps to reflect the changing focus on self-determination over charity in the social work field. Into the 1950’s and 60’s our focus was increasingly on family guidance—preventing “broken homes” and helping families with the shock and confusion of an “unwed mother.” We often teamed up with Catholic Charities who provided arrangements for “confinement” of the girl and adoption if needed. In 1971 we opened a subsidiary with Catholic Charities called the “Cayuga Family Center.” In 1975 this was folded into a consolidated agency known as “Cayuga Counseling Services.”
Programs in the 70’s and 80 included pre-marital counseling upon referral from clergy, divorce support groups and counseling for Vietnam vets. In 1981, we advertised for an Executive Director who had “administrative, supervisory and direct practice” experience for a starting salary of $21,500. Also in the 80’s we became incorporated as an OMH clinic and from then on were able to bill Medicaid (and do a lot more paper work….). My friend Lily who worked in the old non-OMH clinic says they used to just write a brief note for each client encounter. Sigh…
Even though many programs are now obsolete, looking back I can only be impressed by our long tradition of flexibility, pragmatism and collaboration. Times have changed but our mission remains. May the beat go on.
The old way to study charity was from the standpoint of the giver. Now it is no longer called charity, but social service and is studied from the viewpoint of the person who needs help
The tendency of the times is toward collaboration, group thinking and group action
Miss Mabel Porter, Secretary, Family Welfare Society,
Auburn Citizen, October 17, 1930
Article written by Clinic Plus Supervisor, Claire Bobrycki, LCSW-R
