Wordsworth is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides a continuum of education, behavioral health treatment and child welfare services to children, adolescents and families. Our services include special education programs, foster care and a number of programs that are provided in homes, schools and the community.

Founded in 1952 as The Matthews School, Wordsworth originally served students with reading disabilities. The name and scope of services changed in 1965 and the organization has grown from serving 20 students to serving more than 2,000 children and youth each year. Wordsworth provides caring and professional services in a variety of settings, and continues to grow and introduce new programming to meet the changing needs of the community.

Wordsworth provides evidenced-based and innovative therapeutic interventions and educational services based on the individual needs of our clients and families. We help clients identify strengths, foster resiliency, and develop skills so that each child can reach his/her full potential academically and socially. 

Strengthening families and helping children overcome emotional, behavioral and academic challenges is our primary goal. In many cases, healing from trauma must first occur. We recognize that each child's story is unique and tailor the treatment to each child's needs.

Wordsworth partners with the Philadelphia School District, over 50 local school districts from five counties, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Community Behavioral Health, and the Philadelphia Department of Human Services to serve the needs of the community.