The stream of history of Canton Social Work and Trillium Family Solutions follows a trend similar to that of the Charity Organization movement in this country. The old Associated Charities had been working since 1845 and in 1885 decided to organize its efforts. Although there are no records of this voluntary effort, there are references in the early Agency documents to work that preceded this period. In 1887, The Canton Association of Charities was incorporated. The purposes of the organization, quoted for the original constitution, were:
 

The work at that time was divided according to city wards and the standing committees were Distribution, Purchasing, and Finance. All work was voluntary. The Association received its support from private contributors and the income of the Hartford and Houtz funds. Thomas Hartford, a resident of Pittsburgh, PA, owned land in Canton. His will was executed on July 8, 1845. From that time until 1879, the Fund accumulated from the sale of his land was dispersed through Probate Court. In 1879, a Board of Trustees was appointed to take charge of this money. A similar fund was provided through the will of Jacob Houtz, dated September 1867. The income from both of these funds is still dispersed through the Agency today.

In 1921, another reorganization of the Association of Charities took place, and Edwin B. Eckland became the General Secretary.  During that time, Mr. Eckland set up the Canton Welfare Federation and closely following were the Social Service Exchange, Aultman Hospital, Urban League, Travelers Aid Society, Jewish Welfare League and the Child Welfare League committee which resulted in the formation of the Children's Bureau in 1925.

 

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Family Service Society

In 1926, to conform to the changing attitude toward the work, the name of the Association of Charities was changed to Family Service Society. On August 1, 1933, the Family Service Society merged into public relief and was called the Federal Relief Administration and later the changed to Stark County Relief Association, the Board of Trustees remained as a liaison group. In 1935, with the passage of the Social Security Act, the Stark County Relief Administration, now called the Department of Job and Family Services, became a complete public organization and the Family Service Society was separated from it, remaining as a skeleton private family agency.

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The Children's Bureau 

The Children's Bureau, since its formation in 1925, had operated with separate offices, a separate budget and a separate executive committee that reported to the Board of Trustees. The organization had grown until its budget was approximately $90,000 in 1937. The skeleton Family Service Society at that time had one worker and a budget of $5,000. By action of the Board of Trustees, the two organizations were merged into one on January 1, 1938. A Steering Committee worked for a year on the program of the new agency which was largely a service agency. Some services which had been carried by the Children's Bureau become part of the Family Division (for example, protective services to children suffering from neglect). In the move to a treatment orientation, relief per se became less a part of the total program, but was used carefully as a 'tool' in treatment of cases.

In 1939, the Society moved to Cleveland Avenue. In 1940, the Children's Bureau was designated by the Federal Children's Bureau as an agency to supervise British evacuees brought to this country. The Agency worked closely with the Hoover Company in this effort. There are many historical documents in the Agency relating to this effort.

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Family Services, Inc.

The Agency moved to the United Way Building in 1951. In 1974, the Agency again changed its name in response to prevailing attitudes about services to Family Counseling Services of Central Stark County.  Finally, 1990 the Agency returned to its Family Service root by once again changing its name to Family Services, Inc.

In July of 1993 the Agency moved to its current location at 101 Cleveland Avenue NW. At that time, Family Services, Inc. employed approximately 50 people and operated four major programs with many services provided in each program. In 1996, the Agency hired its first Development Director and the Agency's auxiliary, Friends of the Family along with its Teen Board was founded. By 2001 the Agency had established an endowment fund called Family Legacy, had an annual fund drive, and put on three development events, the largest, Chairedible, netted $207,000.

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Trillium Family Solutions

In 2000, the Department of Human Services changed its name to the Department of Job and Family Services. Family Services, Inc. had always been confused with this County department. However, the Department's new name exacerbated the confusion. In response to this confusion, the Board changed the name of the Agency to Trillium Family Solutions on June 25, 2003. The Trillium is the State Wildflower and its three petals symbolize the three pronged approach the Agency utilizes in helping families: counseling, support, and assistance.

As of this writing, the Agency has approximately 130 employees and volunteers (including Friends of the Family members) serving the agency in a variety of capacities.  All employees are professionally trained and maintain licenses in their professions where applicable. The Agency itself is certified by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, and accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Services to Families and Children. The Agency maintains membership in the Alliance for Children and Families, Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers, Ohio Home Care Paraprofessional Organization, National Council on Aging, National Guardianship Association, Ohio Alliances of Community Services for the Deaf, and the Ohio Coalition for Protective Services.