United Way
Donor Number
09414
Mission
History
Administration
Inspired by the gospel message, “Let the children come unto me”, St. Vincent Homes provides services to children, youth and their families. Recognizing the dignity and worth of all persons, we are committed to work together to help families and their individual members develop to their fullest potential and to experience the fullness of life that is their heritage as children of God.
In this spirit, we accept each individual as Jesus did, and embrace every person of every race and creed in a community of faith, hope and love. Utilizing the core values of compassion, dignity, charity, justice and excellence basic to Christianity and the field of professional Child Welfare, St. Vincent’s will continue to impact on social change and advocate for social justice in service to the children, youth and families of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
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History
St. Vincent Homes has served children in need of care since its founding in 1855 by St. John Neumann. The profile of the children varied as the needs to youth and families changed through the years: initially German immigrants, later youths orphaned by wars, toddlers abused or neglected by their parents, presently adolescent girls and young mothers and their babies. Additionally, the preferences of governmental funders and referral sources changed over time. St. Vincent Homes always remained flexible and responsive to these changing needs.
St. Vincent’s can trace its beginnings from the efforts of Catholic women, who, under the direction of the Sisters of Notre Dame at St. Peter’s Schosol, placed seven orphaned children in a home on 5th Street near the church while awaiting the construction of St. Vincent’s in Tacony. Founded in 1855, it was not until 1859 that “The German Roman Catholic St. Vincent’s Orphan Asylum of Philadelphia and Vicinity” was opened. The Sisters of St. Francis staffed the facility for several months until St. John Neumann was able to bring more Sisters of Notre Dame from Munich to meet the needs of the large numbers of immigrant Germans settling in the newly formed German Catholic parishes of Philadelphia. Over the next 150 years, St. Vincent’s cared for more than 10,000 children.
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During 2008, St. Vincent Homes began its most dramatic change ever. The current services offered to young women moved from the campus in Tacony into community-based group homes located throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The decision to transition to the community was necessary to better align the services of St. Vincent Homes with the preferences of governmental funders ad referral sources. It is also in line with national trends indicating that placing children needs to be time limited and in locations close to their families.
Please contact us if you would like a tour of our History Room (Mother Caroline Room), available Tuesday to Thursday each week. Call Diane Sheeron, 215-624-5600 Ext. 149, to schedule your visit. Thank you!
| Administrator | Rick Pytlewski, MSW |
| Director of Social Services | Theresa Metz, MSW |
| Director of Group Life | Pamela Wilson |
| Director of Clinical Services | Kamilah Barnes-Berry, MA, NCP |
| Director of Quality Control | John Timothy Paul, MSW |
| Director of Nursing Services | Diane Amato, RN |
| Director of Life Skills/ Public Relations | Sister Louise Kane, SSJ, MSW |
| Director of Youth Ministry | Sister Barbara Zurine, SSND |
| History Room | Call Diane Sheeron |
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Main Office:
St. Vincent Homes
1509 Church Street • Philadelphia, PA 19124
phone 215-992-5402 • fax 215-992-5189