1974

Bill and Scott Wolfe founded the Community Assessment Program (C.A.P.) in Worcester, Massachusetts, in response to the closing of reform schools in the 1970’s.  As counselors and youth advocates, they organized student volunteers who worked to provide supportive links between deinstitutionalized youth and communities to which they were returning.  Within a year, it was clear they were having a positive impact, and they were able to secure their first contracts with the state. 

1975 - 1977

C.A.P grew exponentially, adding short and long-term foster care programs and Drop-In Centers for youth from the Department of Youth Services (DYS) and Department of Social Services (DSS) (now known as the Department of Children and Families (DCF).  Staff recruited and trained foster families and provided support, counseling, recreational activities and advocacy for clients and foster families. They also opened their first residential program for DYS girls. 

1977

C.A.P was renamed “The Key Program, Inc.” and in the following years opened regional offices in Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester, Lawrence, Fall River and Providence, Rhode Island.  Over the next decade, Key continued to be innovative, opening a myriad of residential program models to serve youth involved with the MA DYS, DSS (DCF) and Department of Mental Health (DMH) agencies, as well as Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) in Rhode Island.    Each program provided placement for youth who were unable to remain in their homes, intensive clinical support, and assessments. 

1989

Having experienced difficulty in obtaining appropriate community mental health services, Key opened the Department of Public Health (DPH) licensed Key Mental Health Clinic in Springfield. 

1990

Key was awarded a contract as the Lead Agency in a new wraparound care model initiated by DSS (now DCF).  This model partnered staff with DSS (DCF) office staff to oversee assessments and client placements.  While the contract has evolved and became the Family Networks Service contract, Key still is the designated lead agency for the Fall River, New Bedford, Lawrence, Holyoke, Springfield, and Van Wart DCF offices. 

2000 - Present

In 2000, in an effort to expand its clinical capacity, Key merged with Children’s Charter Trauma Clinic, located in Waltham, Massachusetts. Children’s Charter continues to provide assessments, clinical services for children and adults that have experienced trauma and are continually developing culturally responsive, innovative, evidenced-based programming in response to the needs of their clients. 

Key continues to provide emergency and intensive residential services, a variety of community-based programming, including Outreach and Tracking and a Positive Parenting Program, as well as provide clinical services in Springfield, Waltham, and Providence, Rhode Island.

Key’s rich history, grounded by grassroots organizations, innovative program development and commitment to equitable access to culturally responsive services is pivotal to supporting the children and families we support.