Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is a non-governmental charitable organization with offices in Boston and throughout Massachusetts which seeks to strengthen families and prevent child abuse through essential child welfare and mental health treatment and effective public advocacy.

History
MSPCC was incorporated in 1878. Henry Bergh, originally a founder of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and then of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (the first such organisation in the world) was also active in the MSPCC's founding. Bergh got involved in child welfare when he was approached by a Methodist missionary seeking help rescuing a child, Mary Ellen Wilson, from an extremely abusive home. After Mary Ellen's story was heard, other complaints came in to Bergh. In response, he and Elbridge Thomas Gerry formed the New York Society in 1874; the Massachusetts society was formed shortly after.

Today
Marylou Sudders, MSW, ACSW is MSPCC's president and CEO.

Its programs include adoption, day care and afterschool, evaluation services, mental health treatment, and prevention services.

It monitors public policy issues at the state legislative and executive levels, and promotes the needs of children and adolescents in the areas of child abuse, foster care, poverty and welfare, and mental, physical and dental health, as well as the needs of teens who have "aged out" of foster care.

United Way of Pioneer Valley funds the following MSPCC programs: GoodStart Parenting Program and Sexual Behavior Prevention & Treatment Program.