Who we are, what we do

Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth is a statewide, non-profit, multi-service, child welfare agency with a distinguished history of working with and providing specialized services to children and families for 125 years.

Founded in 1886, our innovative programs create a caring, structured, and stable environment that provides children and their families the opportunity to learn how to lead healthy and productive lives together.

The mission of Berkshire Farm Center & Services for Youth is "to strengthen children and families so they can live safely, independently, and productively within their home communities.”

Berkshire's community-based services include a variety of placement prevention programs for children of all ages, as well as group homes and foster care.

Berkshire’s Residential Treatment Center is situated on a 2,000-acre open campus amid the beautiful Berkshire mountains and sparkling lakes. The campus includes an accredited Jr./Sr. high school. Berkshire’s campus and corporate offices are located in Canaan, New York (2 1/2 hours north of New York City and 40 minutes east of Albany).

Berkshire Values:

• We treat each child and family with dignity. We respect and honor the courage and inherent strengths of the children, families, and communities we serve.

• We view children in the context of their families and communities. We embrace families as partners.

• We appreciate and affirm all aspects of diversity, whether the diversity is religious, cultural, ethnic, or gender.

• We ensure children are cared for in safe, therapeutic, and caring environments.

• We ensure all services are individualized, empowering, and effectively provided; we focus on permanency and stability.

• We value and support a confident, well trained, and competent staff.