Wayside’s story began in 1977 when a group of citizens formed one of the first residences in New England for runaway and homeless youth—Harbinger House. Our founders included former state Representative Barbara Grey (Framingham) and Roberta Leis. As the need for alternatives to orphanages, reform schools, and psychiatric hospitals grew, Wayside responded by expanding to include an array of services which support youth and families in their community. Over the years, the Wayside network has incorporated several long-standing, local community organizations. They share Wayside’s commitment to helping the children and families of the region, complementing Wayside’s overall spectrum of care.

Today, Wayside stands as one of Massachusetts’ most respected child and family serving agencies, achieving national accreditation in 1999. In 2005, the Commonwealth awarded Wayside Lead Agency status to serve Arlington, Framingham, Malden, South Central (Blackstone Valley), and Worcester East. In 2011, Wayside was selected as the Framingham area Community Service Agency (CSA); two years later we were named as the Lowell area CSA, and quickly expanded to include multiple counseling and outreach services. Wayside’s mission is: “Empowering children, young adults, and families to achieve greater independence and emotional well-being.”

Wayside works with families under significant stress due to mental illness, behavioral problems, and other challenges. We also support youth who have experienced abuse, neglect, and trauma.