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COBYS Family Services: Caring for Children and Families Since 1979

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

COBYS is dedicated to providing Christlike concern and care for children and families in need. We facilitate programs and services in partnership with The Lancaster County Children and 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.

Founded in 1979, COBYS Family Services is affiliated with the Atlantic Northeast District of the Church of the Brethren. Our organization provides foster care, adoption, counseling and family life education services. COBYS is headquartered on Murry Hill Circle in Manheim Township, Lancaster County, with our Permanency Unit based in downtown Lancaster on East King Street. Although our main offices are in Lancaster, we also serve individuals and families in Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Schuylkill, York, and Lebanon counties.
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Executive Team

J. Michael Lausch, Ed.D.

J. Michael Lausch, Ed.D.

Anne Stokes

Anne Stokes

Abby Keiser

Abby Keiser

Krista Rankin

Krista Rankin

Cindy Umberger

Cindy Umberger

Mission

About COBYS

COBYS Family

Mission

Motivated by Christian faith, COBYS educates, supports and empowers children and adults to reach their full potential. Helping children and families in need is at the heart of everything we do—it's an essential part of every role at COBYS and central to our mission.

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.

COBYS Kid

The Work We Do Together

The work we do at COBYS is serious. It is challenging, sometimes messy, and often heartbreaking. But it is also necessary, honorable and life-altering. We would not be able to deliver compassionate care without the support of the wider COBYS Community.

To understand the breadth and impact of COBYS’ services, we invite you to explore our blog and past issues of our newsletter. Follow us on social media, where we actively share adoption finalizations and other connections to our care. Join our email or mailing list for even more information.

COBYS Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan

We are pleased to present the 2025-2030 COBYS Family Services Strategic Plan. This plan is the result of collaboration between individuals from various roles across Lancaster County in order to map 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 reach these goals.