Page 27 - 2025 Plan of Organization

(c) Children’s Aid Society. Children’s Aid Society (CAS) had its
beginnings in 1913 at the home of Sudie May Wingert of the Antietam/Trinity congregation.
Because of her strong feelings about ensuring the basic needs of all children, she promoted child
rescue committees within the congregations throughout the Southern Pennsylvania District. Early
placements of children in congregational foster families begin in 1915 and continued well after the
formation of the Children’s Home which opened in 1923. The agency purchased a larger home in
Carlisle which continued serving children until 1959. By 1975, CAS was providing substantial
support to agencies and families with special needs children.

The decision to return to the provision of direct services occurred in the late seventies and
today CAS continues to provide services to children and their families in Franklin, Adams, and
York counties, PA.

In 1982, the New Oxford Child/Family counseling center, now known as the Nicarry
Center, opened in Adams County. The Nicarry Center (TNC) offers counseling to children ages 3
to 18 in the form of Art and Play therapy. TNC also provides a clothing bank (referred to as “God’s
Closet”) for children.

In 1986, The Frances Leiter Center (FLC opened in Franklin County also offering
counseling to children ages 2 to 18 in the form of both Play Therapy and Individual Counseling.

In 1987, the Lehman Center (TLC) opened in York County as a child abuse prevention
program through short-term crisis nursery care for children birth through 6 years of age. TLC
provides a safe haven for children at risk for abuse and/or neglect; as well as an Art Therapy
Counseling Program for children ages 3 to 18; Parent Support Groups; and Case Management.

The CAS Board of Directors consists of sixteen (16) Directors. Nine Directors are selected
and elected by the voting membership. The balance of the Directors shall be considered at-large
Directors elected by the CAS Board. The Executive Director of CAS is an ex-officio member of
the CAS Board, but is not entitled to vote. Various factors are considered when selecting and
electing CAS Directors.

District specific requirements mandate that nine (9) of the sixteen (16) Directors must be
members of the Southern Pennsylvania District Church of the Brethren. The at-large Directors
elected by the Corporation board may be persons of another Christian denomination, however,
they have all the rights and responsibilities of those Directors from the Brethren denomination
except the ability to serve as a Board officer. Consideration to the location of District zones and
CAS centers in relation to potential Director’s domicile is also given. Finally, Directors must be
at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(d) Elizabethtown College. Elizabethtown College was founded in 1899 by
members of the German Baptist Brethren Church. (Named Church of the Brethren in 1908.) The
college was intended for the education of their own children and the school was to be open to all

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