EP 56: 153 Years of Impact: Pain Points of Meeting a Community’s Changing Needs

June 23rd

By: StaffBuffalo Team

For more than 150 years, Child and Family Services has been helping Western New York families navigate some of life's most difficult moments. Behind that work are passionate professionals committed to creating safer, healthier, and stronger communities. 

On this episode of the Pain Points Podcast, Lauren Lewis sits down with Mary Czopp, Chief Communications and Development Officer at Child and Family Services, to discuss the organization's incredible history, the evolving needs of the community, and the powerful stories that continue to drive its mission forward. 

From foster care and adoption services to domestic violence prevention, counseling, and education, Mary's perspective offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of Western New York's most impactful nonprofit organizations. 

More Than A Century Of Service

Child and Family Services has been serving the community for over 153 years, making it one of the region's oldest and most established nonprofit organizations. 

What began as the Buffalo Children's Aid Society in 1873, the organization was founded to protect vulnerable children and provide support for families in need. While programs and services have evolved significantly over the decades, the mission remains remarkably similar today. 

Each year, Child and Family Services supports approximately 10,000 individuals and families through a wide range of programs, including foster care, adoption services, counseling, residential treatment, educational programming, employee assistance services, and Haven House, Erie County's only licensed domestic violence shelter. 

As community needs continue to change, the organization continues to adapt while remaining grounded in its original purpose: helping people through difficult moments and creating opportunities for brighter futures. 

Meeting Families Where They Are

One of the unique strengths of Child and Family Services is the breadth of support available under one organization. 

Families often enter through one program and discover additional services that help address underlying challenges. Whether a child is enrolled at the Falk School, a family is receiving counseling, or someone seeks safety through Haven House, the organization works to connect individuals with the resources they need to heal and move forward. 

Mary explained that the goal is not simply to solve an immediate problem. The goal is to understand the bigger picture and provide comprehensive support that helps families thrive long-term. 

This integrated approach allows Child and Family Services to serve as both a safety net and a pathway toward stability. 

The Stories That Stay With You

As Chief Communications and Development Officer, Mary has the privilege of sharing stories that illustrate the impact of the organization's work. 

One story that continues to stay with her involved a young boy in residential treatment who had never celebrated a birthday with a cake or candle before turning six years old. 

When staff presented him with a cupcake and birthday candle, he simply looked at them and asked, "What do I do with this?" 

Moments like that serve as powerful reminders that the work goes far beyond programs and services. It is about creating childhood experiences, restoring hope, and helping children experience moments many people take for granted. 

Mary also shared how meaningful it is when former clients approach her in the community and say, "You saved my life." 

Those interactions reinforce the impact of the organization's work and the importance of continuing to advocate for families who need support. 

Growing to Meet Community Needs

One of Child and Family Services' most important priorities today is expanding Haven House. 

Currently, the shelter regularly reaches capacity and is forced to turn away individuals and families seeking emergency shelter because there simply is not enough space available. 

The planned expansion will increase capacity significantly and create additional accommodations for larger families seeking safety from domestic violence situations. 

For Mary, this project represents more than construction. It represents access, dignity, and hope for individuals facing some of the most difficult circumstances of their lives. 

At the same time, the organization continues investing in employee wellness, professional development, technology, and workforce retention to ensure services remain strong for future generations. 

A Mission That Continues Forward

After 16 years with Child and Family Services, Mary has witnessed tremendous growth, change, and innovation. 

Yet what stands out most is the consistency of the mission. 

The organization still exists for the same reason it was founded more than a century ago: to support children, strengthen families, and help people overcome adversity. 

Whether through a foster family, a counseling session, a domestic violence shelter, a classroom, or simply a caring conversation, Child and Family Services continues to provide hope when people need it most. 

And for Mary, that is what makes the work worth doing every single day.