Agency Overview
About Us
St. Catherine’s Center for Children is a leading non-profit agency based in Albany, NY, dedicated to transforming the lives of vulnerable children and families in the region. With a rich legacy of service dating back to its establishment, our agency has been a beacon of hope and support for those facing challenging circumstances.
We provide a wide range of comprehensive programs and services designed to address the unique needs of each individual, including foster care, adoption, family support, mental health counseling, and educational services.
Our team of dedicated professionals is committed to fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment, ensuring that every child and family receives the care, guidance, and opportunities they need to thrive. Guided by our core values of compassion, integrity, and advocacy, St. Catherine’s Center for Children continues to make a profound and lasting impact on the lives of countless children and families in our community.
Our Vision
St. Catherine’s willingness to embrace change and develop new services is, and will remain, our guiding philosophy as we support the human service needs of children, families, and adults throughout the region.
Our Mission
St. Catherine’s Center for Children provides a comprehensive range of human services designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of the children, families, and adults we serve.
Our History
On May 25, 1886 a group of Roman Catholic nuns, the Daughters of Charity, opened a home for sick orphans in what is now the historic Schuyler Mansion in the city of Albany. The orphans had “sore eyes,” a symptom of the measles epidemic that had swept through the city that winter. The Diocese of Albany decided that sick children living at St. Vincent’s Orphan Asylum should be moved to the Schuyler Mansion to prevent further spread of the disease. St. Catherine’s Center for Children traces its origins to the children being moved to the Schuyler Mansion.
In 1913, St. Catherine’s moved to its present home at 40 North Main Avenue in Albany. Anthony N. Brady, a wealthy businessman, donated the funds to build an orphanage alongside the new Brady Maternity Hospital.
St. Catherine’s Center for Children has come a long way from its early days as a home for sick orphans. Throughout its long history, there have been periods of growth and change that have defined the Agency as an established and leading provider of human services in the Capital Region of New York.
Today, St. Catherine’s Center for Children’s services reach more than 1,000 children, 600 families, and hundreds of adults. Our multi-service programs address issues of homelessness, child abuse and neglect, family instability, and special education, among others. St. Catherine’s willingness to embrace change and develop new services is, and will remain, our guiding philosophy as we support the human service needs of children and families throughout the region.
Indeed, adaptability and a willingness to embrace change are hallmarks of St. Catherine’s Center for Children. The Agency has continually evolved, offering new services and programs to meet the changing and contemporary needs of children, families, and adults it serves.
From Our Executive Director
Dear Friends,
No child should be abused and neglected. No family should be left without a home or the fundamental resources needed to survive. No student should go to school without the hope of learning the skills necessary to succeed in life.
St. Catherine’s Center for Children has been serving the Capital Region since 1886, offering programs and services that address the challenges our children and families face. We are committed to helping families find answers to their struggles.
Interested in supporting St. Catherine’s? This website will show you how. Looking for employment in a career that offers profound satisfaction? Check out our job listings to see if there something for you.
To learn more about St. Catherine’s Center for Children, call us at 518-453-6700. Better yet, schedule a visit. We are always ready to welcome new friends and share our story.
