On April 24, 1917, a Special Act of the New York State Legislature incorporated Catholic charities all across our state. In Rochester, Catholic Family Center (CFC) was founded "to assist immigrants, find employment for men released from prison, serve unmarried mothers and their infants, and provide material goods for the poor."

Since 1917 years we have continued this work, and have added and evolved our programs to meet the changing needs of hundreds of thousands in our community, non-Catholics and Catholics alike.

In 1972, a TV program exposes conditions at Willowbrook State School, a New York State institution for persons with developmental disabilities. Willowbrook Consent Decree is signed, making a State commitment to a program of community placement of persons with developmental disabilities. Bishop Matthew Clark of the Diocese of Rochester soon thereafter commissioned a task force to determine the unmet needs of persons with disabilities within the Diocese. Catholic Charities Community Services is commissioned to become a provider of residential services for persons with developmental disabilities.

Without ceasing, our programs have evolved to provide more emphasis on addressing the barriers that prevent people from moving to self-sufficiency in today's environment. In 2016, CFC was selected to lead an adult mentoring program in several city neighborhoods in partnership with other public and non-profit agencies. The ultimate goal of adult mentoring is to help people living in poverty overcome the barriers that have been preventing them from securing and retaining living-wage employment.

Today, our programs have become more collaborative and focused on systemic change to help our clients attain enduring independence and community. Looking forward, our collective agency is positioned to take a lead role in responding to some of our most critical community issues and to role model the power of collective impact as we partner with like-minded agencies.

Together, we believe that we can break the cycle of generational poverty in our community, enabling people to not just stabilize, but begin to thrive. Together, we can walk with all who need us the most.

Learn about the deep history of service of Catholic Family Center.

40 year anniversary story of Catholic Charities Family and Community Services

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Our History

A look back at 100 years of serving the community, and a look forward to CFC's continued impact in the coming decades. Catholic Family Center makes big changes for people, from crisis stabilization to enabling self-sufficiency and thriving families.

Who are we?

A quick overview of Family and Community Services

1000+
Employees & Volunteers
80+
Programs
32
Locations
1
Mission
Walking with all who need us