The Children’s Home Offers Comprehensive Care for Families
The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh is an independent nonprofit organization with a mission to promote the health and well-being of infants and children in Pittsburgh. North Hills Monthly learned more about this longtime essential place and the important services they provide from Chief Executive Officer Stacy M. Schesler.
North Hills Monthly (NHM): The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh has a long history. Could you tell us why it was opened and how the organization came to be at the current location?
Stacy M. Schesler (SMS): Founded in 1893, The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh was established to ensure children without permanent families could grow up in safe, loving homes through adoption rather than institutional care. As the needs of children and families evolved over the past 130 years, so did our mission. Since its founding, The Children’s Home has been an organization that identifies where there are gaps in services for families and thoughtfully fills in where families need it most. The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh has expanded to include the Pediatric Specialty Hospital for children with complex medical needs, Child’s Way pediatric daycare, Therapy Services, Counseling and a nationally recognized vision services program for children with Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) called Pediatric VIEW.
In 2007, we moved into our current campus in the Friendship/Garfield neighborhood, creating a centralized space for all of our services.
NHM: What adoption services do you offer?
SMS: The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh has facilitated both infant adoption services and adoption through Pennsylvania’s foster care system, with the majority of our adoptions occurring through foster care. As a longtime partner of the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN), we have helped connect children with safe, loving and permanent families for decades. What makes our program unique is the support we offer birth parents, including a 24/7 phone line answered by one of our social workers, even on weekends and holidays, so no one has to face their journey alone. We also offer a Transitional Care Program, allowing birth parents to place their newborn with a specially trained foster family for up to 30 days while they thoughtfully consider whether they have the resources to parent or would like to move forward with an adoption plan, ensuring every decision is made with care, support and without pressure. The Adoption and Permanency Program at The Children’s Home celebrates birth parents with free birth parent retreats, Mother’s Day celebrations and holiday get-togethers to make sure every birth parent knows they are supported.
NHM: Tell us about the Pediatric Specialty Hospital.
SMS: Our Pediatric Specialty Hospital, although licensed as an acute care hospital, serves as a transitional care hospital model, once again filling the gaps in health care so children with complex medical needs don’t have to languish in long-term care facilities. The Pediatric Specialty Hospital uses comprehensive training and supportive teaching to empower caregivers to be the expert in their child’s care. Parents and caregivers learn everything from daily medical routines to specialized equipment management on the same equipment that they will take home, empowering them to become the experts in their child’s care before discharge. This family-centered approach helps children safely transition home while avoiding unnecessary stays in long-term care facilities or costly acute care hospital bills and giving families the confidence they need to care for their child independently. The hospital provides all of this while making sure that no family ever sees a medical bill for their hospital stay with us.
NHM: What is Child’s Way?
SMS: Child’s Way at The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh is more than a daycare; it’s a place where children with complex medical needs can learn, play and thrive while receiving the specialized nursing and therapeutic care they depend on each day. Families who might otherwise be unable to work or attend school have peace of mind knowing their children are in a safe, nurturing environment staffed by pediatric nurses, therapists and early childhood professionals.
NHM: What types of outpatient mental health counseling services are available?
SMS: The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh provides comprehensive outpatient mental health counseling services designed to meet the unique needs of children, adolescents, young adults, families, couples and individuals. Licensed therapists offer individualized, evidence-based care for a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, behavioral challenges, emotional regulation, school-related stress, family conflict, self-esteem, life transitions and other mental health needs. Recognizing that no two people experience life the same way, clinicians tailor treatment plans to each client’s goals, developmental stage and lived experiences. The program also offers specialized counseling for neurodivergent individuals, including those with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, sensory processing differences and other developmental diagnoses, helping clients build emotional awareness, coping skills, communication strategies and confidence. Our Counseling Services Program also specializes in Reproductive Mental Health Services, caring for individuals who are experiencing infertility, pregnancy, loss/grief, postpartum depression/anxiety and navigating life as a new parent. Family involvement is encouraged whenever appropriate, equipping parents and caregivers with practical tools to strengthen relationships, improve communication and reinforce progress at home.
NHM: What is the Pediatric VIEW Program, and who benefits from it?
SMS: The Pediatric VIEW Program at The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh is a nationally recognized program dedicated to improving the lives of children with Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), the leading cause of pediatric visual impairment in developed countries. Our Director of Pediatric VIEW, Christine Roman-Lantzy, Ph.D., developed the CVI Range Assessment, which is a tool that measures a child’s functional vision. This tool recently went through a clinical research study with Children’s Hospital L.A. and was proven to be the only reliable and valid vision assessment tool available at this time. Pediatric VIEW helps children with CVI maximize their functional vision and reach their full developmental potential. The program serves infants, children and young adults with CVI, while also providing invaluable guidance and training to families, educators, therapists and medical professionals, ensuring each child receives consistent, evidence-based support across home, school and community settings.
NHM: Tell us about the many therapy services you provide.
SMS: Our licensed pediatric physical, occupational and speech therapists work closely with each child and their family to create personalized treatment plans that support mobility, communication, feeding, sensory development, daily living skills and overall independence. Services are available in our Pediatric Specialty Hospital as inpatient or outpatient services held in our therapy gym. Early Intervention services ensure children receive seamless support wherever they are in their developmental journey. In addition, our therapy team oversees our Feeding and Swallowing Clinic in collaboration with our Medical Director. By combining clinical expertise with a family-centered approach, our therapists empower children to reach meaningful milestones while giving parents and caregivers the tools and confidence to support their child’s continued progress at home.
NHM: Tell us about the recently opened Rosalyn’s Nook?
SMS: In May 2026, The Children’s Home opened its newly renovated Orange Unit, designed to provide a welcoming, healing-centered environment for children with medical complexities and their families. The newly reimagined unit has been thoughtfully designed to promote healing, comfort and growth while creating a bright, welcoming space where children can receive expert medical care while experiencing moments of joy, imagination and play.
A highlight of the new unit is the unveiling of Rosalyn’s Nook, a dedicated play space created in memory of Rosalyn, lovingly known as “Rose.” Donated by her mother and father, Autumn and Richard, Rosalyn’s Nook offers children and families on the Orange Unit a special place to play. The opening of the Orange Unit also marks a significant expansion in care capacity for The Children’s Home. Thanks to the dedicated leadership of Chief Nursing Officer Lisa Houlihan, the organization worked closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to secure licensure for the new inpatient beds. The Children’s Home is a Transitional Care Hospital, training families and caregivers to be the experts in their child’s complex medical needs.
NHM: What would you like our readers to know about the Children’s Home of Pittsburgh?
SMS: What we want readers to know about The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh is that we are so much more than any one program or service. We are not just a pediatric specialty hospital, a therapy center, a daycare, a counseling provider, an adoption agency or an outpatient program for children with cortical visual impairment. While each of these services plays a vital role in supporting children and families, what makes The Children’s Home unique is the way these programs come together under one organization to meet families wherever they are on their journey.
Every child, adult and family we serve has a different story, different needs and different goals. Our integrated approach allows us to provide personalized support that grows with each individual, whether someone needs medical care, developmental support, therapy, mental health services, family resources, permanency support or specialized expertise. Families do not have to navigate a complex system of disconnected services alone; they have a team that understands their whole journey and works together to provide personalized, coordinated care.
The community plays an essential role in making this mission possible. Individuals can support The Children’s Home through donations, volunteering or attending events such as our annual gala, which helps provide critical resources and support for the children, families and individuals who rely on our services. Together, our community helps ensure that no one has to face life’s challenges alone.
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