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Cayuga Centers began operating in 1852 when it opened a home for children who had nowhere else to go. And while the core of its mission is still intact, the agency has evolved and expanded over the years to provide not only residential facilities but counseling, disability support services and programming aimed at pairing children with foster families. 

In recent years, the agency has been underfunded for those services at the local and state levels, it told ÈËÊÞÐÔ½». That's why it announced last week the layoffs of more than 200 of its employees in Auburn, New York City and Florida. Programming in those service areas will also be closed in the coming weeks, with details to be announced at .

But the agency has also been facing organizational challenges, as suggested by a federal lawsuit it recently settled against its CEO, Edward Myers Hayes, accusing him and the agency's board of creating a hostile work environment for one executive in retaliation for her investigation of an age discrimination complaint against Hayes by another executive.

We're not sure if the underfunding, organizational dysfunction or both are to blame for the layoffs. But we are sure that the closure of programming will be devastating. 

Cayuga Centers said part of its short-term plan will be to connect children and families to other human services providers. We can't help but imagine that being a tall task, especially with fewer places to turn to as funding for programming is becoming more scarce. It would take a healthy collection of agencies to fill the gaps in service that are opening.

That's why we stress focusing on the children and families during this difficult time for Cayuga Centers. As much blame as there may be to go around for the situation there, the work the agency does is critically important — and we urge any and all local providers of similar services to do what they can to fill the gaps as best as they possibly can.