The mission of Family Service is to strengthen individuals and families in our community through education, counseling and support services.

Description:
The experience we have gained from monitoring and serving the needs of people in the metro Omaha area for more than 125 years has helped Family Service build a strong foundation of understanding and care. Although the makeup and concerns of families have changed much in those years, our well-qualified, capable staff provides the expertise that people need for the common and uncommon problems of our time. Family Service offers nine major program areas: professional counseling, children's emergency services, juvenile crime prevention & intervention, community education, domestic abuse program, child care services, neighborhood services, corporate services and senior services.

History:
In 1875, several volunteers from a group of churches founded the Christian Workers Association at 1421 Douglas Street in Omaha, Nebraska, to provide visitation to the sick and poor, relief to the destitute, and to conduct nonsectarian meetings in impoverished areas. The name was changed to the Omaha City Mission after one year to reflect the growing need for relief services.

In 1892, a decision was made to separate the growing charity and relief efforts from gospel teachings. The Associated Charities was incorporated to centralize the charitable organizations of the city. Programs included relief efforts, a wood yard for men and boys, an industrial school for women and girls, a medical clinic, a rescue home for children and a legal department " . . . to protect needy clients from exploiting loan companies."

In 1909, the focus of the agency shifted from pure relief efforts to include formal training in self-sufficiency through an Industrial Department. A social service exchange, or clearing office for all the charities of the city was established to prevent duplication of services to persons who applied to more than one agency, and 52 agencies became members. South Omaha city officials established a second branch in the South Omaha City Hall. They donated rent, telephone service and operating expenses.

In 1915, seven departments were formalized: Material Relief, Rehabilitation, Legal Aid, Medical Aid, Employment, Clearing House and Remedial Loans.

In 1941, Family Service and the University of Nebraska developed the UNO graduate school of social work. The flagship master degree internship program continues today.

In 1945, the agency accepted the administration of the Junior League's Day Care Center and began a half-century of providing child care to working families.

In 1970, the Neighborhood Services program initiated the Multi-Service Centers, an exciting new concept in neighborhood service delivery to assist the residents of low-income area.

In 1975, Family Service of Omaha merged with Family Service of Council Bluffs.

In 1979, Neighborhood Services started a domestic abuse program in response to a growing threat of family violence.

By 1981, as prevention proved more effective than intervention, new Family Life Education programs emerged to help the children of divorce, of chemical dependency and of child neglect and abuse.

In 1987 the growth of local gang violence prompted a study of the scope of the problem, resulting in parenting classes offered through our North Omaha office.

In 1989 the YouthNet Family Counseling Program was developed to respond to increasing youth violence. This program is a collaboration of Family Service, the YMCA and United Way of the Midlands.

In 1994 the "Safe Haven" concealed shelter opened, offering transitional shelter, support and education for victims of domestic abuse. At the request of the juvenile justice system, our Community Based Evaluation program was developed to help judges conduct a more effective assessment of youth offenders.

In 1996 the "Tracker" program was added to provide young adult mentors to guide a troubled youth and supervise his or her compliance with parole or probation agreements.

In 1997, the Care Connection program contracted to provide child care referral services to more than 11,000 employees of the companies of the Greater Omaha Dependent Care Association (GODCA).

In 1998 the Steve & Cheryl Wild Children's Emergency Shelter opened for Douglas County children birth to age 18 who are victims of parental abuse or neglect.

In 1999, the Homeless Link Program started in Council Bluffs, to provide case management and housing to homeless or near-homeless people in Pottawattamie County. Residents of Fremont requested that Family Service administer the Jefferson House Children's Emergency Shelter for Dodge County children birth to age 18 who are victims of parental abuse or neglect. Technological improvements continued through the development of a Wide Area Network, and we launched our second website: www.familyserviceomaha.org.

In 2000 Family Service celebrated the 125th anniversary of its founding. The "Transitions" transitional living apartments were opened to offer homes and wrap-around services to homeless people, to help them move to being homeowners.

Contact people:

Mary Langdon, Community Development Coordinator, (phone), (email) Dawn Bashara, Director of Communications, (phone)

Address:

2101 S 42 Street Omaha, NE 68102-2909 (See a map)

Directions:

The Administration building is ten blocks north of the I-80 & 42 Street interchange, or 18 blocks south of the intersection of Dodge Street & 42 Street. Various volunteer opportunities are available at over 16 locations throughout the Omaha. . . (more)