The History of the Villa Maria Continuum

Villa Maria’s history is embedded in a value system that shapes and guides all of the services we provide in our continuum of care. Steeped in a spiritual tradition, the agency dates back 189 years when in 1818, St. Mary’s Female Orphan Asylum was established as the first of five similar agencies that would later combine to form Villa Maria. In 1959, all five agencies began operating as Villa Maria, moving away from the orphanage focus as the need for treating children who have been neglected and/or abused and children with severe emotional disabilities became greater.

The agency became licensed as a Residential Treatment Center in 1982. Set on 100 acres in a pastoral setting, the headquarters in Timonium, Maryland today houses several clinical programs, two educational programs and the primary infrastructure that supports all the remaining 19 mental health and special education programs in the Villa Maria Continuum.

The Villa Maria Continuum culture is driven by a passion for excellence. The agency’s values have been consistently rooted in a dedication to customer service with an emphasis on providing this service through caring, compassionate relationships that honor the worth and dignity of each individual. It is this value that provides the foundation for our journey to excellence.

Catholic Charities of Baltimore | 320 Cathedral Street | Baltimore, MD 21201 | 410.547.5490 | Archdiocese of Baltimore