President Brandon opened the meeting at 12:25 and the pledge and prayer followed.
ATTENDANCE:
PROGRAM: 
Eric M Chase, M.S. Exec Director/CEO of the Children’s Aid Society spoke on the services that his agency provides, including Crisis Nursery and Child Therapy in York, Adams, and Franklin Counties.
The mission of Children's Aid is twofold:
- All children are safe and feel loved.
- Helping children and their families build stronger, healthier lives through compassionate and professional services
They have been operating since 1913 and are there to serve the rejected, orphaned and dependent children. Children's Aid is a ministry of the Church of the Brethren.
They operate 3 locations in York, Adams and Franklin Counties - The Lehman Center, West Mkt St in York; The Nicarry Center Lincoln Way West, New Oxford; and the Francis Leiter Center, Lincolnway East, Chambersburg.
Eric talked about various services they offer to children and families:
- Art, Play and Child Centered Therapy by trained trauma therapists with specialization in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Crisis Nursery at the Lehman Center, one of 3 in the State. They offer short term respite care 24 /7, 365 days a year.for newborn through age 6
- Incredible Years Parent Education which is a prevention and intervention program to enhance children's social and emotional competencies
- God's Closet in the Nicarry Center is a clothing room for children ages 12 and under
- 24 hour Parenting Hotline and Referral Service 800-635-6619
- Parent Support Groups offering parents a peer group to talk about the stresses, anxieties, and complex issues of parenting
- Family Advocacy intended to build family resiliency by helping families achieve and maintain stability through referrals to community agencies, home visits, and ongoing emotional support
-York C.A.R.E.S. serving the needs of the houseless providing coffee, conversation, community and connection to essential services
Many services are free but Children's Aid accepts Medical Assistance,, Health Choices, Quest Behavioral Health, and Employee Assistance and a sliding scale for self-pay clients.
For more information on the Children’s Aid Society, please visit www.cassd.org
NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM: HANOVER MAYOR SUEANN WHITMORE