75+ Years of Hope & Healing
Owned and operated by Christ Child Society of Detroit, we are a nonprofit organization guided by the belief that it is never too late to have a happy childhood. Every day, we help children build the safety, stability and connections they need to thrive.
Through our residential treatment and foster care programs, we provide the stability, support and therapeutic care children need to heal, build resilience and create brighter futures.
Our Mission
To be an innovative treatment program that fosters hope and healing for children and families impacted by trauma.
Our Vision
To reduce the impact of childhood trauma
Our Values
Compassion • Healing • Resilience • Innovation • Safety • Trust
Collaboration • Hope • Integrity • Leadership • Diversity
Guided by These Principles
Every decision we make, every program we provide and every child we serve is grounded in these values. Together, they help create a foundation of safety, trust and belonging for every child in our care.
Our History
Our Roots
Christ Child House was founded in 1948 by Christ Child Society of Detroit, a nonprofit organization that has served children and families across southeastern Michigan for more than a century.
Recognizing the need for temporary emergency housing for children whose families were facing crisis due to illness, unemployment and other hardships, the Society purchased a home on Pallister Avenue in Detroit's New Center neighborhood. The house welcomed up to eleven children at a time, providing safety, stability and compassionate care during difficult circumstances.
Over time, demand for the program increased, and it became clear that the small home on Pallister Avenue could no longer keep pace with the growing need. As the number of children served continued to rise, Christ Child Society began searching for a permanent home that would provide the space and stability needed for the future.
In 1957, that opportunity arrived when Ford Motor Company and the Henry Ford family donated two acres of land on Joy Road for the symbolic price of one dollar. The colonial farmhouse on the property became the new Christ Child House, welcoming its first 18 residents in May 1958.
Meeting More Complex Needs
Over the decades, both the campus and the needs of the children it served continued to grow. Christ Child House underwent several physical expansions to accommodate more residents and provide additional services, but the most significant changes were happening within the program itself.
What began as a temporary refuge for children experiencing family hardship evolved into a specialized residential treatment program for children impacted by trauma. Many of the young people who come to Christ Child House have experienced abuse, neglect, multiple foster care placements and other adverse childhood experiences that affect their emotional, behavioral and educational development.
In response, we expanded our programs and services to provide increasingly specialized, trauma-informed care. Through therapy, education, family engagement and individualized treatment, we have remained committed to helping children heal, grow and build brighter futures.
As community needs continued to evolve, so did our services. In 2022, we launched our Foster Care Program, expanding our ability to provide safe, stable and nurturing family environments for children in need. Together, our residential treatment and foster care programs allow us to support children and families through multiple paths toward healing, permanency and hope.
A New Chapter Begins
Even with multiple additions and renovations over the years, it became clear that our facility could no longer fully support the level of care children deserved. In response, we embarked on a transformational vision for the future of Christ Child House.
What began as an idea grew into a grassroots effort led by volunteers whose passion and commitment rallied donors, foundations and community partners behind an ambitious effort that would shape the future of Christ Child House for generations to come.
Fueled by a $14.7 million capital campaign and years of planning, that vision became reality in February 2026 with the opening of a state-of-the-art residential treatment center near the original Joy Road property.
Purposefully designed around the needs of children impacted by trauma, the new facility includes dedicated educational space, therapeutic and sensory environments, indoor and outdoor recreation areas, and welcoming gathering spaces. More than a new building, it reflects our commitment to providing enhanced care and expanded opportunities for children to heal, learn and thrive.
Today, we continue to evolve while remaining rooted in the same mission that inspired our founding more than 75 years ago: providing hope and healing for children and families impacted by trauma.
Accreditations & Affiliations
Christ Child House is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), licensed through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and a member of the Michigan Federation for Children and Families. Together, these affiliations reflect our commitment to providing safe, high-quality, trauma-informed care.
Backed by experienced clinical and administrative leadership, Christ Child House provides specialized residential treatment and foster care services for children impacted by trauma. Referring agencies across Michigan trust our team to deliver individualized care that promotes healing, stability and hope.
