About Family Service Lincoln

Helping Families Thrive

We are driven by a simple belief, that everyone deserves the chance to thrive. Our team works to bring life-changing opportunities and resources directly to the families in our community who need them most.

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Helping Families Thrive

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Our Values

Family-focused

We put local families at the center of every decision.

Collaborative

We partner across the community to build stronger support networks.

Adaptable

We pivot quickly to meet our community’s changing, real-time needs.

Accountable

We practice transparency to build and keep community trust.

Passionate

We serve our community with empathy and commitment to our work.

Preventative

We help families solve challenges early before they turn into crises.

Family Service Linoln Man Loading Organization Van

Supporting our community for more than 135 years.

Family Service Lincoln was founded in 1891 as the first charitable organization in Lincoln, Nebraska.

While our programming has evolved over the years to meet the changing needs of our community, our core mission remains the same: Helping Families Thrive. Today, this mission unites our seven program tracks, providing case management, housing support, behavioral health therapy, expanded learning opportunities, and nutrition programming to support thousands of local households annually.

Our History

Family Service Lincoln was founded in 1891 as the first charitable organization in Lincoln, Nebraska. For more than 130 years our programming has evolved to meet our community’s changing needs, while our mission has stayed the same: helping families thrive.

1891–1910

1891: The “Charity Organization Society” was founded to meet community needs in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Established the Woodyard to provide employment for wayfarers.

Created an “Industrial Room” offering room and board to individuals facing homelessness.

Promoted legislation that successfully established the local Juvenile Court.

Inaugurated Lincoln’s first visiting nurse program.

Completed construction on a two-story agency building at 228 South 10th Street.

Purchased land and a building at 746 Rose Street, donating it to Lancaster County for a Juvenile Detention Home.

Established the Children’s Aid Committee and officially began distributing direct relief.

Opened a day nursery to support working mothers.

1911–1930

Developed dedicated Legal and Travelers Aid Services.

Coordinated visiting nurse services directly with Lincoln Public Schools.

Joined the National Association of Societies for Organizing Charity (later Family Service America).

Financed a tuberculosis mitigation program and added a third floor at 228 South 10th Street to house patients.

Changed the organization's name to the “Social Welfare Society”.

Submitted a formal plan to the City for hiring Lincoln's first female police officer.

Established and funded a free community dental clinic.

Initiated city-wide interest for a Council of Social Agencies, leading to the 1923 creation of the Lincoln Community Chest.

Promoted the establishment of a dedicated municipal Child Welfare Department.

1931–1950

Gained federal tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service.

Shifted agency focus from direct relief to intensive social casework for long-term family rehabilitation.

Partnered with the Junior League of Lincoln to provide space and intake services for a new Well Baby Clinic.

Developed a preventative medical and dental care framework for local children.

Appointed a committee to pioneer services for mental health and child guidance.

Surveyed service gaps for the blind, resulting in the development of a statewide program.

Secured approval from the Federal Children's Bureau to place and supervise British refugee children.

Changed the organization's name to the Family Service Association of Lincoln.

Acquired land at 1133 “H” Street via a Woods Charitable Fund grant and sold the 228 South 10th Street property.

1951-1970

Established a dedicated program to purchase shoes for children in need.

Dedicated and opened the new agency headquarters at 1133 “H” Street.

Formed an advocacy committee to support pregnant and unwed students within the school system.

Surveyed local needs to advocate for free school lunches for disadvantaged children.

Launched a developmental child care program in a church facility near Clinton Elementary School.

1971-1990

Initiated the first day care home training program in Nebraska, marking the third such program in the nation.

Adopted the Open Door Health Advocacy Center to connect low-income individuals with affordable healthcare.

Absorbed the Medical Transportation Program to transport elderly and disabled residents to medical appointments.

Sponsored the Child Care Food Program (CCFP) to provide training, consultation, and meal reimbursements to providers.

Launched the "School's Out" before and after school child care program at Randolph, Hartley, and Elliott elementary schools.

Started the local Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program.

Introduced the Parents and Children Together (PACT) program.

Created the Building Tomorrow program, offering a resource library and telephone support for parents and child care providers.

1991–2010

Leased and moved administrative operations into the Mill Towne Building at 501 South 7th Street.

Received official recognition from Family Service America for 100 years of continuous service.

Transferred the Medical Transportation Program, including vehicles and funding, to Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital.

Transferred Project HELP operations to the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

Opened the Downtown Infant Toddler Care Center (DITC) at 11th and “N” Streets.

Initiated the FAST program in collaboration with local school and substance use councils.

Co-sponsored the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program with the Lincoln Area Agency on Aging.

Purchased the office space at 501 South 7th Street to permanently co-locate agency staff.

Became the lead partner for the Community Learning Centers (CLCs) across seven local elementary schools.

Expanded into school-based mental health services through the Behavioral Health department.

2011–Present

Grew the Child Care Food Program to serve home-based providers statewide.

Closed the Early Childhood Center following the sale of the Lincoln Medical Education Partnership building.

Adopted a new mission statement ("Helping Families Thrive"), logo, website, and branding campaign.

Expanded Behavioral Health and Youth Development programs into surrounding counties and additional school sites.

Established the Housing and Support Services department to manage emergency pandemic housing and rental assistance.

Integrated Community Crops into Family Service Lincoln as a fifth core program track.

Purchased property at 1531 N 52nd St. to develop a mixed-use campus with rentals and a community center.

Secured funding from the Bezos Day 1 Families Foundation to launch a family homelessness initiative.

Purchased a near-south neighborhood five-plex apartment building to provide transitional housing for families.

Celebrated 20 years of school-based therapy services through the Behavioral Health department.

Broke ground on the new permanent FiftyOne Commons campus facility.

Completed the FiftyOne Commons Rowhouses to provide affordable rental housing for local families.

Opened the FiftyOne Commons STEAM Activity Center, successfully concluding the agency's capital campaign.

Secured a contract to operate the new Lancaster County SquareOne Family Resource Center.