History
Serving Families
Since 1878
Founded in 1878 by the women of the United Presbyterian churches of Pittsburgh and Allegheny City—now Pittsburgh’s Northside—MHY Family Services began as a volunteer-led ministry serving children and families in crisis. Originally known as the United Presbyterian Orphans Home, the organization supported families who, due to death or poverty, were unable to care for their children. Within two decades, “The Home” had grown from a small volunteer effort to a staffed organization employing 12 adults and caring for 75 children.
In 1929, in response to increasing community need, the agency purchased an estate in Butler County, which the campus MHY Family Services continues to occupy.
As community needs evolved, so did the organization. In 1996, it was reincorporated as Mars Home for Youth, reflecting an expanded mission to serve at-risk youth through residential and community-based programs.
In the fall of 2000, Longmore Academy opened its doors in response to the growing need for more specialized educational services and smaller class sizes for students residing at Mars Home for Youth and at-risk youth from surrounding school districts.
In 2012, due to significant growth in Community Services, the organization adopted the name MHY Family Services to better reflect its diversified programs and broader focus on strengthening families.
In 2014, MHY Family Services earned accreditation from the Council on Accreditation (COA), recognizing excellence in human service delivery. Expedited re-accreditation was awarded in 2018, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to high standards of care and accountability.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, MHY Family Services responded to unprecedented social and workforce challenges by reassessing and realigning its services. Residential programs were suspended, and resources were strategically invested in expanding community- and school-based programs. Today, the organization’s work centers on supporting youth and families in their homes and communities, keeping families safely together and providing specialized education at Longmore Academy for many students from over 37 school districts in 9 counties.
For nearly 150 years, MHY Family Services has remained committed to meeting the changing needs of youth and families—and will continue that commitment for generations to come.
