100 Year History - Changing Lives Since 1908

The roots of Rosalie Manor Community & Family Services began in 1908 when two Misericordia Sisters from Montreal came to Milwaukee to open a home for single pregnant women.  It is important to understand our roots as it still impacts our services today. 

The Misericordia Sisters were founded in 1848 when Rosalie Cadron-Jette, a woman of humble beginnings whose desire to help single pregnant women, inspired the Bishop of Montreal to ask her to begin this forward-thinking order of nuns.  With only six other women, they set out with their mission, “to give shelter and support to women who were single and pregnant.”  From this mission several organizations grew, one of which was our Rosalie Manor.  (for more information on the Misericordia Sisters, please visit http://www.smisericorde.org/Asoeurs.htm)

In 1908, two Misericordia Sisters opened a maternity home and 6-bed maternity hospital at 22nd & Juneau, later moving to 22nd and Kilbourn.  In the 1940s-1960s, the Misericordia Hospital was the premier birthing hospital in the Milwaukee area.  In the 1960s it was decided there were too many hospitals in Milwaukee’s central city, and Misericordia Hospital closed.  Not ones to walk away from a community in need, the Sisters built Elmbrook Memorial Hospital in Brookfield, along with the residential facility for young mothers, in 1969 where Rosalie Manor remained until the 1980s. 

In 1984, the decision was made to move back to Milwaukee to be closer to the young women we served.  In addition, the community needs were changing.  In decades past, the majority of unwed mothers chose adoption.  In the 1980s, more mothers were choosing to raise their children.  Therefore, a program designed specifically for young single mothers was created, and our first “outreach” program was born.

While some of our programs have shifted to meet the needs of the community, we remain deeply and actively involved with the families we serve, dedicated to our mission:

Strengthening Milwaukee families by empowering parents to be nurturing and by guiding youth toward positive futures.

We accomplish our mission by designing and implementing innovative programs that address the challenges commonly faced by families living in urban communities including teen pregnancy, lack of access to quality healthcare, child development issues, barriers to education/employment and financial dependence.

We understand that no one agency can provide all the services one family needs.  Therefore, we partner and collaborate with organizations that enhance our services.  Many clients seek assistance from us because of our positive reputation, hearing about our services from others in the community.  Our programs are voluntary and free of charge. 

Rosalie Manor...since 1908, working hand in hand with Milwaukee’s families.