Children's Village (New York)

[Notes 1][3][4] The necessity for such an institution was first proposed by the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, which helped to get it started.

[5] Hundreds of homeless and runaway children were present on the streets of New York at the time, and many of them were arrested every year.

[3] Early on, the asylum was able to house 400 students, who received six hours of schooling a day, plus other types of instruction, such as vocational education.

[6] The school also participated in the orphan train program between 1855 and 1903, placing 6,323 children with families throughout the Midwest, notably Illinois.

[6] In 1901,[9] in the face of rising property values, the Washington Heights site was sold and 277 acres were purchased in Dobbs Ferry, New York, in Westchester County.

[4] Children did not stay at the facility indefinitely; after 6–12 months they were returned to their families or placed in foster care.

[6] The Children's Village saw its funding, both from government and from private donors, decrease, and it had to tap into its endowment to remain afloat.

[6] The Children's Village revamped its treatment procedures in light of increased criticism of the residential model.

[6] There was an increased focus on treating children's behavioral and emotional problems and preparing them for reintegration with either their families and communities, or a foster home.