Holy Family Institute

Rooted in the rich tradition of Catholic social teaching and the heritage of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Holy Family Institute (HFI) empowers children and families to lead responsible lives and develop healthy and meaningful relationships built on faith, hope, and love.

In the more than 125 years since the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth first provided shelter to three orphaned children, Holy Family Institute has become a beacon of light to children and families in Allegheny County and the Greater Pittsburgh region, serving roughly 40,000 individuals each year. We operate a wide range of social services, including alternative and specialized education, shelter services for immigrant children, energy assistance, and family counseling programs, such as:

In-Home Family Services - a counseling program that empowers families to handle challenges related to abuse, substance use, attachment disorders, grief, depression, anxiety, family issues, or relationship problems.

Stop Now and Plan (SNAP) - an early intervention program for children ages 6 to 11 and their families to work together on improving serious behavioral challenges.

Visit Coaching works with families who have had children removed from the home by Children Youth and Family Services, helping them make the most of supervised visits.

Parents and Children Together - a 90-day intervention program that helps families identify and decrease barriers that contribute to school absenteeism.

Testimonials

"I learned beneficial and effective ways to bond and empathize with my child." - Stop Now and Plan (SNAP) parent

"SNAP helps me when I'm mad. It helps me to know how to calm myself down." - (SNAP) child

"I was so worried; I was barely making it before. I feel so much better now - I just needed a little help to stay caught up and pay my bills." - Customer Assistance Program participant

"We learned new communication skills and new ways to cope with stress." - Parents and Children Together client

"Eleven months of parent support and sobriety support work led to the return of children and closure of the CYF case!" - In-Home Family Services client