SPRINGFIELD, MA – Helix Human Services hosted a celebration in honor of 160 years of serving children & families.
Rooted in Resilience – Established April 27, 1865
Helix Human Services was founded by Rachel Capen Merriam as the Springfield Home for the Friendless Women and Children and was the first response to a multitude of problems facing women and children at the end of the Civil War era. The wives and widows of Civil War soldiers faced enormous hardship – the Springfield Home for Friendless Women and Children was established April 27, 1865 – becoming the first charitable institution of its kind not only in the city, but in all of Western Massachusetts. In 2003 the agency was renamed to The Children’s Study Home and in 2023 was renamed to Helix Human Services.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate 160 years, we honor the generations that have come before us and reaffirm our commitment to children and families who have experienced trauma. Even in the most chaotic and divided times, we choose to come together – to care for and support our community and continue shaping and strengthening the future of Helix Human Services. We celebrate resilience – the remarkable ability for individuals to recover from adversity, to adapt, learn, and emerge stronger than ever before. It is essential to understand that while resilience is often innate, it is also fostered by relationships built on trust, empathy, and support by caring individuals like those that are here today.
Anniversary Celebration
Helix Human Services opened their doors to the community on Tuesday, April 29 for an anniversary celebration and mayoral address. In addition to Mayor Sarno, other attendees included: Jennifer Pickering from the Office of Senator Jacob Oliveira, Jesse Lederman from US Senator Edward Markey’s Office, Springfield City Councilors Zaida Govan, Kateri Walsh, Brian Santaniello, LaMar Cook from Governor Maura Healey’s Western MA office, Lamari Jackson from the Office of Senator Adam Gomez, and many board members and staff.
Helix Human Services CEO Mark Paglia addressed the crowd “Rachel Merriam started this work with a simple, powerful belief – that every child deserves hope, healing and a chance to for a brighter future. That spirit lives on everything we do today.” We look forward to continuing our mission of serving the children and families of our communities that need it most for the next (at least) 160 years.
About Helix Human Services
Helix Human Services provides trauma-informed therapeutic and educational services to diverse children and families, building the foundation for lifelong success at home, school, and in the community. We do everything in our power to help traumatized children, families, and adults find their resilience and strength. We have 9 programs across the state from the Berkshires to Cape Cod.