House of the Good Shepherd affiliates with Berkshire Farm Center

UTICA, N.Y. — The House of the Good Shepherd has announced a strategic affiliation with Berkshire Farm Center & Services for Youth.

The partnership will advance the missions and growth of both organizations as they respond to the needs of children and families.

The nonprofits will remain separate entities with separate operating boards while forming a joint parent company called Stronger Communities NY (SCNY). The parent company structure will combine administrative services and maximize the strategic-planning capabilities of both organizations, officials said in a press release. The news release announcing the affiliation did not address whether any jobs would be impacted by the partnership.

“The House of the Good Shepherd will continue to serve our local communities, fulfilling the promise our founders made 151 years ago,” that organization’s CEO Brian McKee said.

The House, based in Utica, provided treatment, education, and support services to 1,500 children and 525 families last year. Its organizational values, culture, and mission strongly align with those at Berkshire, McKee contended. “We are excited about the professional growth opportunities it will create for our employees, as well as the ability to bring a combined voice to advocate for youth and families in need,” he added.

Berkshire, a statewide child-welfare organization based in Canaan, serves nearly 2,000 children and families daily across 55 counties. It provides trauma-informed services focusing predominantly on foster care, behavioral health, and family preservation.

“The progression of this partnership will eventually lead us to a more complete continuum of care for those we serve,” Berkshire Farm Center & Services for Youth President/CEO Brian Parchesky said. “Simply put, we will be able to help more children and families, in more and different ways, in a larger portion of our state. Together, we will move towards a more diverse and culturally sensitive array of service options to best reach families and respond to their unique needs.”