The beginning of Children's Service Society
 On October 13, 1884, in the Territory of Utah, a meeting was held to organize a day nursery in Salt Lake City. Thirty-four women were in attendance. The purpose was to provide assistance and relief to destitute children and "to obtain such temporary and permanent homes as may be practicable."
Donations were sought from local merchants for bread, fresh meat, produce, and milk. According to the by-laws, children could be admitted as early as 5:30 A.M. and could remain as late as 6:30 P.M. The parents were charged ten cents daily for each child. Special arrangements were made to board children for $.75 per week.
Today our vision is to enrich the lives of children and families. Children’s Service Society is committed to meeting the growth and developmental needs of children, fostering quality child care, and promoting positive relationships in biological, adoptive, and kinship families without regard to ethnicity, race, income, gender, age, or religion. We accomplish our mission with our four programs: Adoption, Grandfamilies Relatives as Parents, Child Care Resource & Referral ~ Metro, and Utah Parents as Teachers. |
