About COBYS Family Services

COBYS offers foster care, adoption, counseling, and family life education services in South Central Pennsylvania. Founded in 1979 and affiliated with the Atlantic Northeast District of the Church of the Brethren, COBYS is dedicated to providing Christlike concern and care for children and families in need.

Caring for Children & Families Since 1979

At COBYS, we offer care and support during some of life’s most difficult moments. Our work is challenging, sometimes complex, and even heartbreaking. But it’s also necessary, honorable, and life-altering. It can even be joyful. Our services are designed to support the unique needs of children, adults, and families, meeting them where they are and serving them with empathy, compassion, dignity, and hope.

COBYS facilitates programs and services in partnership with the Lancaster County Children & Youth Social Service Agency and the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN). In addition, we offer a range of support for individuals navigating the foster care and adoption system, as well as counseling services for those facing life’s challenges.

COBYS is headquartered in Manheim Township, Lancaster County, with our Permanency Unit based in downtown Lancaster. Although our main offices are in Lancaster, we also serve individuals and families in Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon, Schuylkill, and York counties.

Our Mission

Motivated by Christian faith, COBYS Family Services educates, supports, and empowers children and adults to reach their full potential.

Our Vision

Serving Hands. Caring Hearts. Fostering Hope.

Core Values

Life Is Sacred

Believing that all people are created in the image of God, we recognize the inherent worth of each client by exhibiting empathy, compassion, and respect.

Integrity

We strive to be honest, authentic, and trustworthy in saying what we mean, matching our behaviors to our words, and taking responsibility for our actions.

Faith

Jesus is Lord of our organization. We trust him to provide for our ministry’s needs and to empower transformation in our own lives and in the lives of those we serve.

Teamwork

Respecting our unique contributions, we value and care for each other, both personally and professionally, and enjoy working and growing together.

Servanthood

Servant leadership is reflected perfectly in the life and person of Jesus Christ. We seek to integrate the highest standards of professionalism with Christ’s example of joyful service.

The Work We Do Together

To understand the breadth and impact of COBYS’ services, we invite you to explore our blog and newsletter. Also, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, where we actively share adoption finalizations and other connections to our care. 

COBYS Strategic Plan

We are pleased to present the 2025–2030 COBYS Family Services Strategic Plan. The result of collaboration between individuals from various roles across Lancaster County, it maps a plan toward improvements and efficiencies in our operations. The dedication of the strategic plan team resulted in four distinct goals, each with accompanying action steps to help us improve how we serve our communities. 

Read the Plan

Our Executive Team

Meet the team who’s guiding COBYS Family Services on our mission to educate, support, and empower children and adults to reach their full potential. 

Meet the Team

Join the COBYS Mailing List

To receive information about our care, details on our events, and in-depth stories about the positive difference COBYS is making in the lives of individuals at risk, please join our contact list. We’d love to share what partnership with COBYS means for our kids and families.

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