Through an extraordinary public-private partnership, Orangewood Children's Foundation raised the money to build the Orangewood Children's Home and donated it back to the County upon completion in 1985. Located in Orange, California, the Orangewood Children's Home is Orange County's only emergency shelter for neglected and sexually, physically or emotionally abused children. The Home provides refuge each year for over 1,000 children who have been removed from their caretakers by police officers or child protective services workers and placed into protective custody.

In the Fall of 2010, Orange County Social Services Agency changed the name of Orangewood Children’s Home to “Orangewood Children & Family Center”. This reflects the facility’s expanded mission of serving both children and their families. A recent shift in the child welfare system has resulted in increased focus on keeping children with their families and relatives, but only if this can be done safely. The shift has reduced Orangewood's daily population; although well over 1,400 children are still admitted annually. The Center continues to provide children with emergency shelter in cottages that house children and teens ranging in age from newborn to 18 years, plus an on-site K-12 school and preschool, medical facilities and recreational facilities including a pool, basketball courts, softball field and game room.

However, the 10-acre campus is now being used for broader purposes. The Child Abuse Services Team (CAST) is now on-site and continues with its mission of conducting child abuse investigations at a single site, enabling children to avoid being re-victimized by having to tell their story of sexual abuse and neglect multiple times. A Family Visitation Center, which allows parents to visit their children after court hearings, is also now on-site. In the Spring of 2011 Early Start and Head Start programs will be offered to provide a full day of early childhood education for approximately 40 children from infancy to age 5 who are residing in foster care or with relatives.

Bill Steiner, founding director of the facility, said, "Orangewood has evolved into a cutting-edge multiservice center. Its proactive response to changing conditions secures its future as one of the most valuable resources in Orange County and one that will continue to work to break the cycle of abuse and neglect for children in need."
»Click here to read Bill's entire op-ed piece that appeared in the Orange County Register.

Ongoing special projects funded by Orangewood Children's Foundation help to keep facilities in peak operating condition. The Foundation continues to support the Orangewood Children & Family Center and its young occupants, providing a wide range of programs, activities, equipment, supplies, and necessities for the children who reside there.

» Click Here for the most recent Orangewood Children & Family Center fact sheet.