Our History

Serving children in need for over 100 years.

Founded in 1916, the OPRF Infant Welfare Society is a nonprofit organization that has focused on the well-being of children for over 100 years. After starting as a milk station, OPRF IWS has grown to support children’s health through a variety of programs, including the IWS Children’s Clinic, which provides medical, dental and behavioral health services to children in need.

The OPRF IWS’s history dates back to the early 1900s. As Chicago's population exceeded 1 million people, a limited number of hospital beds were designated for children. In 1902, the Chicago Women’s Club was both outraged and spurred to action after hearing of a father who carried his infant son from hospital to hospital seeking care, with the child ultimately dying in his arms. At that time, many children died of curable diseases, and much of the sickness resulted from a lack of clean milk.

Seeking help from doctors, the women of the Chicago Women’s Club organized milk stations throughout the city where mothers could get clean milk for their babies for free or very little money. In January 1916, the Oak Park River Forest station of the Infant Welfare Society was established; later, the group separated from Chicago and became its own organization – the Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society.

In 1919, a dietician joined the Oak Park station staff, and the OPRF IWS added care for pregnant women and children up to 6 years old. IWS hired a psychiatric social worker in 1925, and in 1937, IWS began offering immunizations to children.

From 1925 to 1980, the OPRF IWS’s station was located at the Oak Park River Forest Day Nursery property on Randolph Street. In 1997, the OPRF IWS moved into space on Lake Street in Oak Park, where it remained until 2022. That year, the OPRF IWS moved into the building at 28 Madison Street in Oak Park, which it had purchased and renovated. This state-of-the-art facility offers children and their families access to medical, dental, and behavioral health services in a warm and welcoming environment.

In addition to providing a safety net to the more than 3,500 children served each year with more than 10,000 visits to the IWS Children’s Clinic, OPRF IWS offers a variety of programs such as a Giving Library, health education programming, and portable dentistry that brings dentistry to elementary schools in the community, and provides additional services to support the families who take advantage of the IWS Children’s Clinic.

The OPRF IWS has thrived thanks to its member volunteers and those who have provided generous support and assistance that allows the OPRF IWS to focus on helping children grow into healthy and productive adults. For over 100 years, it has always been about the kids, and it will continue to be for years to come.