Our History
A Legacy of Hope and Healing
Since 1900, Ädelbrook has been dedicated to helping youth and young adults build lives filled with achievement, dignity, happiness, and hope. Our story began with a simple purpose—to serve those in need. Over the years, Ädelbrook has grown and evolved, but our mission has remained the same: to provide hope and healing to children and families. Discover how we’ve continued to adapt and expand to meet the needs of those we serve.
Celebrating 125 Years
For 125 years, Ädelbrook has been lighting the way toward brighter futures for individuals with autism, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. Watch our anniversary video to see how our mission has grown, evolved, and continued to make a meaningful impact over the decades.
1900
Ädelbrook was founded in 1900 by the Swedish Evangelical Covenant Church. Dedicated and opened as The Swedish Christian Orphanage, its purpose was to “provide a home for homeless and neglected children… and provide not only for the physical needs of a child, but that the Word of God be taught…so that each child may discover the joy and security of a Christian faith.”
1915
In 1915, Ädelbrook’s current location in Cromwell, CT was established through a group of farmers who gifted the property to the agency. With the generosity of the Pierson family, a three-and-a-half-story residence was constructed at 60 Hicksville Road, then known as the Cromwell Children’s Home, providing a new home for seventy-two children and the dedicated staff who cared for them.
1920-1950s
The Cromwell Children’s Home campus hosted Christian summer camps, and many conferences, with dormitories and dining halls built to accommodate residents and visitors.
1960s
Orphanages, in their truest sense of the word, were a thing of the past. But there was still a need to house children whose homes were not safe. Thus began our partnership with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. We met the need by expanding our mission to include a therapeutic approach that brought more children into the fold and provided an environment for them to heal from trauma and reach their fullest potential.
1970s
In 1972, The Unity Center was built, offering a more home-like atmosphere for the boys and girls and also to allow for “on campus” educational classes. Prior to this, residents had attended local public schools. Additionally, clinical, medical, dining, and recreational areas were incorporated into the facility to meet the needs of the residents.
1980-1990s
By 1980, the need for an educational facility on campus, and in the community, was so great that the Cromwell Learning Center was built to provide special education to Ädelbrook’s residents as well as day students from surrounding school systems.
2000s
In 2000, the agency became affiliated with the denomination’s Covenant Ministries of Benevolence (CMB). Today, the eastern side of our hill is the location of Covenant Living of Cromwell, a retirement community also affiliate with CMB.
2002-2005
Community Services Inc., a sister agency of the Children’s Home, was created in 2002 to provide community-based programs. Its first group homes opened in 2005, and the agency has continued to expand residential and therapeutic services to meet the evolving needs of children and families.
2012
In 2012, the Cromwell Children’s Home was renamed to Ädelbrook Behavioral & Developmental Services. Our name honors the agency’s Swedish heritage as ‘Ädel-’ means precious and ‘-brook’ represents the ever-changing path of life.
2013
New residential and educational programs opened across Connecticut, including Shiloh House in Cromwell, ten Continuous Residential Support (CRS) Homes, and the Learning Center in Manchester, a special education academy for ages 3-10.
2014
In 2014, the Transitional Academy in Middletown began serving young adults ages 18–22 with individualized educational and vocational training, while new day support and occupational therapy programs helped individuals strengthen life skills and build meaningful community connections.
2015-2018
From 2015 to 2018, five additional CRS homes opened, bringing the total to ten across Connecticut. Genesis House, an extension home of Ädelbrook’s residential treatment center, is created in the community to support transition into the community for three of our Cromwell residents.
The Processing Center opened to house all business and human resources operations and staff. During this time, Ädelbrook’s staff grew from 150 to more than 650 employees, reflecting the organization’s continued commitment to meeting the evolving needs of those it serves.
2022
Opened in 2022, the Linda Reilly-Blue Respite Home became the first program of its kind in Connecticut. Designed to provide weekend respite and 24-hour care for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities, the program offers families the opportunity to rest, recharge, and receive support.
2023
The ÄdelbrookCARES Food Pantry opened in 2023 to meet the year-round needs of the individuals we serve. Beyond addressing food insecurity, it also provides students with valuable opportunities to develop vocational and life skills.
Ädelbrook Hilltop Preschool and Daycare was also inherited in 2023, providing early education and daycare for neurotypical children.
2024
The opening of Ädelbooks & More marked an exciting milestone, becoming the second vocational storefront supported by students from the Transitional Academy.
That same year, Ädelbrook opened Benny House, a therapeutic group home designed to provide a nurturing and structured environment for those in need of specialized care.
Ädelbrook also celebrated the opening of its fifth learning center, The Bloomfield Academy, expanding educational opportunities for children with diverse learning needs across Connecticut.
2025
After 125 years of caring for children and their families, Ädelbrook continues to adapt to meet the changing needs of the community while remaining dedicated to the principles of its original mission. Today, we are a state-of-the-art residential treatment center, special education school, and family treatment center.
