Our History
A movement of caring for the community
Mid-1970s
Parents, school staff, and counselors come together to help teens struggling with boredom, drug and alcohol use, and mental health issues.
1977
CAPTAIN CHS is born. Students create the acronym CAPTAIN (Community Action for Parents, Teens, and Interested Neighbors) to represent their shared community concern
1988
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The Runaway and Homeless Youth Emergency Shelter for youth under 18 is established–the only one in Saratoga County.
1992
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The new Cheryl's Lodge Community Outreach Center for children and families opens in Halfmoon, Turf Trailer Park, in a donated double- wide trailer.
1994
Free summer meals program begins at Cheryl’s Lodge.
1997
Agency budget is just under $1,000,000 with 12 staff and 80 volunteers.
2003
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The Emergency Food Pantry is established.
2014
Family Development launches the Getting Ahead program to help people lacking in resources, stabilize their lives, and develop their own path to self-sufficiency.
2016
First of its kind Street Outreach program for vulnerable youth is established to address homelessness and human trafficking.
2017
Happy 40th Anniversary CAPTAIN CHS! Agency budget is $2,500,000 with 46 staff and over 200 volunteers.
2018
Merger between Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Community Human Services and CAPTAIN Youth and Family Services to become CAPTAIN Community Human Services.
2020
CAPTAIN CHS is the lead agency for Saratoga County to work with 10 other non-profit partners to address homelessness during the pandemic, distributing over $2.5 million to the community.
2022
Agency budget is over $3,500,000 with 82 staff, 300 volunteers, and impacting over 7,000 people annually.
2024
A new Employment Readiness and skills training course called GATEway is created.
