"... to establish and maintain residential programs that make real and effective the presence of Christ and his church to those served."
History
 
The roots of Catholic Residential Services, Inc. go back over 100 years. The first formal program was established in 1872. Six years later in 1878, the agency opened St. Michael's Home. A new facility, St. Michael's Orphanage, was built in 1910 for residential care of unwanted, neglected, or abused children. The program at St. Michael's was converted to residential care for emotionally disturbed children in 1958 and renamed St. Michael's Home for Children. The program continued until 1982 when St. Michael’s Home for Children was closed.
 
In 1925 the agency opened St. Joseph's Nursing Home, a long-term skilled care facility for the elderly in La Crosse, Wisconsin. St Joseph’s moved to a brand new facility in 1983. Marywood Convalescent Center, also a skilled care facility for the elderly, was built in Wausau, Wisconsin, in 1980. Both facilities are licensed by the State of Wisconsin and enjoy a reputation for high quality care.
 
In 1932 we received a license from the State of Wisconsin as a child welfare agency and began adoption and foster care programs in three metropolitan areas.
 
The agency was incorporated in the State of Wisconsin as Catholic Social Services in 1960.
 
A family counseling program was started in 1963. Certification from the State of Wisconsin to operate outpatient mental health clinics in the La Crosse Diocese came in 1978.
 
In 1976 we changed our name to Catholic Charities, Inc., Diocese of La Crosse.
 
A network of adolescent group foster homes was established in 1976 to care for children displaced from their own homes. We continue to operate two group foster homes licensed by the State of Wisconsin. The Family Financial Counseling Program was started in 1988 to help individuals and families manage their financial resources. In 1997 we changed our name to Catholic Residential Services, Inc. We became focused on providing residential services and continued to operate our nursing homes and foster group homes.
 
Also in 1997, a new corporation called Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse, Inc. was created. The adoption, mental health, financial and credit counseling, and other human service programs were placed in the care of this new corporation.
 
In 1998 Catholic Residential Services, Inc. completed construction and opened Meadow Wood Assisted Living. Meadow Wood is a 45 unit assisted living complex adjacent to St Joseph’s Rehabilitation Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin.