1875: The agency was founded by volunteers from a group of churches to provide visitation to the sick and poor, relief to the destitute, and to conduct nonsectarian meetings in impoverished areas.

1900: The focus shifted from pure relief efforts to include training in self-sufficiency - teaching job skills to women and adolescents and then employing them in our Industrial Department.

1941: Family Service and the University of Nebraska developed the UNO graduate school of social work. The original master degree internship program continues today. Our collaborative efforts helped organize the local Visiting Nurse Association, Legal Aid, the Visiting Homemaker Program and the Travelers Aide Bureau.

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.

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

1975: Family Service of Omaha merged with Family Service of Council Bluffs.

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

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.

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.

1989: The YouthNet Family Counseling Program was developed to respond to increasing youth violence.

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.

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

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).

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

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.

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.

2001: A new "Family Legacy Society" was created to endow the agency to prepare for the future needs of children and families. Family Service was honored by the Omaha Public Schools with its 2001 "Family Friendly Award" for our Families And Schools Together (FAST) Program, our YouthNet Family Counseling and our 125th anniversary parent education campaign of 'tips brochures' for school parents.

2002: The Council Bluffs Office moved into a donated building named the Family Service H. Lee Gendler Center, administering all the agency programs in Southwest Iowa, including a second Youth Substance Abuse program for 13-19 year olds. The Salute to Families program was replicated in Southwest Iowa. The North Office was fully renovated and added mental health and substance abuse services.

2003: Our Therapeutic School opened in Council Bluffs, serving students with emotional or psychological disabilities who cannot remain in a regular school. Our HALO program -- Healthy Alternatives for Little Ones -- earned the national Robert Rice Innovative Program Award from the Alliance for Children and Families. The Families And Schools Together program and School and Family Enrichment program both expanded services in schools, providing family-strengthening activities and mental health services to elementary and middle school students and their families.