History of The Astor Home for Children
The Astor Home for Children — originally the Astor Home for Boys — was established in 1953 in response to an initiative of the New York State Department of Mental Hygiene to create children's residential treatment programs that would reduce the need for psychiatric hospitalization of children.
Its first home — now the agency's administrative offices and its residential treatment center — was located in Rhinebeck, New York on property donated by Vincent Astor to the Archdiocese of New York. At its inception, The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul assumed administrative responsibility for the agency. Later, administration of the Astor agency passed to a staff of committed and innovative professionals who are responsible for the wide range of services and programs which today constitute The Astor Home for Children.
In 1966, Astor opened its first outpatient mental health clinic in Rhinebeck, the first of what would become a wide range of community-based behavioral health treatment programs intended to make it possible for emotionally disturbed youngsters to receive quality treatment and case management services while continuing to live at home and attend school in their communities.
In 1974, Astor was one of the first mental health facilities for children in the country to receive accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
Astor assumed responsibility for Head Start Programs in Dutchess County in 1978. This early childhood development component was enhanced in 1985 with the initiation of Astor's Maternity and Early Childhood Outreach Program. The later program provided the prototype for the agency's Head Start Parent and Child Centers developed in 1991 to serve the special needs of infants, toddlers and their parents. Through its Astor Early Childhood Program, the agency has continued its leadership in early childhood education today.
Children who are in residence at the agency's treatment programs in Rhinebeck, New York, are enrolled in the special education program operated by The Astor Learning Center, which was incorporated in 1980 as a state approved private school for children with emotional problems. In 1988, 1994 and in 2001, The Astor Learning Center was designated as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education.
Today The Astor Home For Children serves a region stretching from Dutchess County south through the Hudson Valley and into the Bronx in New York City. Now much more than a residential Home for Children, services available through Astor's Child Guidance Clinic, Astor Counseling Centers, Astor Early Childhood Program, Day Treatment Programs, Home-based Crisis Intervention, school-based services and preventive services make it possible for emotionally disturbed youngsters to receive the quality treatment and case management services they deserve while continuing to live at home and attend school in their communities.
Before you leave our website today, please be sure to have a look at our "Astor Photo Album". You'll find a link to the album located near the bottom of every page.
PHOTO ALBUM SNEAK PREVIEW!
For more detailed information, see also:
Astor Time Line
