Highlights in history of the Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania
1895
Charity Society Organization (CSO) founded to bring order into the chaotic field of charitable relief.
1896
Luzerne Humane Society merged with the CSO adding care of children and animals to its charitable relief work. Improving the standards of the care provided to children became a major focus of the agency’s mission with the agency providing temporary housing under its own roof until suitable placements could be found. The agency also housed women and children who were awaiting trial.
1897
CSO name changed to United Charities (UC).
1921
The agency’s role was shifting from “emergency relief” to “family rehabilitation.” Up until this time, donations and bequests were the sole source of UC’s funding. The agency Board in collaboration with other community leaders formulated the “Community Welfare Federation” charged with “the raising and administration of funds along the most economical, practical and far-seeing lines.” The Board also began to focus on the need to hire professionally trained staff to carry out the casework. The agency was reorganized, and a child welfare department was formed, focused on placement of children in good homes in the community, as well as a family service department. The Community Welfare Federation, the Juvenile Court, and the Poor Board along with occasional donations from individuals became the source of funding.
1923
At or about this time, UC’s work shifted to casework, and facilitation of child placements.
1929
The Board began considering separation of the Child Welfare Department from the Family Services Department. Early 1930’s The County and the State assumed the major responsibility for the maintenance of relief, and the agency moved
more strongly to social casework and family casework. “… freeing the private family agency to develop its services in dealing with problems of personal and social adjustment.” Mid- 1930’s Between then and 1938, the Child Welfare League of America, funded through the Martha Bennett Estate, conducted a study of United Charities’ Child Welfare Department.
1938
As a result of that study, the United Charities’ Child Welfare Department and the Children’s Home joined their operations to form the present day Children’s Service Center.
1939
The Welfare Federation established a Study Committee “to consider the operations of the member agencies with a view of making sure that the maximum value of community service is being obtained from the funds expended and to confer with the agencies as to organization and methods which would assist in this objective.” That Study Committee reviewed a proposed merger between the Children’s Service Center and the United Charities.
1941
The agency changed its name to Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley.
1952
Wyoming Valley Community Chest, “increasingly concerned about the limited funds available for its various community services” … “considered the possibility of a merger of the two of them (the family agencies in Wilkes-Barre: FSA and JWA)” … “its (the study of JWA) findings did not point to the desirability of a merger with FSA at that time.”
1956
Visiting Nurse Association and Charities of Nanticoke, merged with FSAWV.
1961
Family Service Association of Pittston, established in 1917, merged with FSAWV.
1961
Trustees established to hold real property to support mission and activities of FSAWV.
1972
Help Line service initiated.
1994
FSAWV awarded County RFP to establish Guardianship Service for Aging clients, and MH/MR clients.
1995
FSAWV awarded State Department of Health contract for Special Kids Network.
1996
Help Line moves to Trion Industries offices.
1996-7
FSAWV discusses organizational structure changes with Domestic Violence Service Center, Wyoming Valley Drug and Alcohol, and Catholic Social Services.
1998
FSAWV awarded Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and Children’s Trust Fund Grants to initiate FAST programs, begins move toward expansion of prevention services.
2003
State budget crisis results in return of Help Line to 31 West Market Street.
2005
Agency is reaccredited through the Council on Accreditation. FSAWV building undergoes renovations, including new facade and filling in the second floor for more office space.
2008
Agency is reaccredited through the Council on Accreditation.
2010
Help Line program is awarded Millenium Circle Award of the Luzerne Foundation
2011
Help Line expands services to include Tioga, Bradford, and Sullivan Counties
2011
Agency initiates the Tri-Vets Community Action Team
2011
In collaboration with the Luzerne Foundation, the United Way of Wyoming Valley, and the American Red Cross, the Agency initiates the Luzerne County Long-Term Disaster Recovery Coalition
2012
Agency is reaccredited through Council on Accreditation, expanding the accreditation to 6 programs. Case management services are introduced through Outreach/Prevention for youth involved with Juvenile Probation. The Family Finding Program is initiated for at-risk youth.
2013
Family Service Association introduces the Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program for youth Discussions begin with Victims Resource Center to explore further collaboration and possible merger.
2014
Family Service Association changes its name to Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program expands to Lackawanna County. Development office moves to Kirby Health Center in order to begin fund raising for Victims Resource Center. Agency telephone system integrates with Victims Resource Center. Help Line expands 211 coverage to 17 counties (Luzerne / Wyoming / Bradford / Sullivan / Tioga / Clinton / Columbia / Lycoming / Susquehanna / Lackawanna / Pike / Wayne / Monroe / Montour / Northumberland / Snyder / and Union)
2015
Family Service Association is awarded a grant, in collaboration with the Victims Resource Center to begin development of a Child Advocacy Center to serve Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties.
The following is a list of Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania memberships and affiliations:
- Alliance for Strong Families and Communities
- Pennsylvania Alliance for Children and Families
- Foundation Grant Seekers Information Service
- International Employee Assistance Professionals Association
- Luzerne/Wyoming Counties Providers Association
- National Guardianship Association
- Pennsylvania Association of Information and Referral Services
- Alliance of Information and Referral Systems
- United Way of Wyoming Valley
- United Way of Greater Hazleton
- Wyoming County United Way
- Bradford County United Way
- Lycoming/Clinton County United Way
- United Way of Susquehanna County
- United Way of Greater Berwick
- Columbia County United Way
- Pennsylvania Coalition on Mental Health and Aging
- Society for Human Resource Management
- The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry
- Coalition on Autism
- Children’s Alliance of Luzerne County
- Luzerne County Domestic Violence Task Force
The following public and private organizations provide funding for agency services:
- Abuse & Assault Crisis Center
- Bradford County Drug & Alcohol Services
- The Bridge of Catholic Social Services
- Confidential Counseling
- Children’s Service Center
- Commission on Economic Opportunity
- F.M. Kirby Foundation
- Geisinger Foundation
- Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Charitable Foundation
- Lourdesmont
- Luzerne County Children & Youth Services
- Luzerne County Office of Human Services
- The Luzerne Foundation
- Anti-Bullying Fund
- Diversity Fund
- Friedman Family Foundation
- The Fund for Luzerne County
- Generation 2 Generation Fund
- Millennium Circle Fund
- The Wyoming Valley Fund
- Luzerne – Wyoming Counties Area Agency on Aging
- Luzerne –Wyoming Counties Mental Health / Developmental Services
- Luzerne – Wyoming Counties Drug and Alcohol Program
- Luzerne – Wyoming Counties Transportation Program
- M & T Bank Charitable Foundation *
- Northeast Counseling Services
- Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency
- Southwestern Energy Company
- Tioga County Office of Human Services
- UNICO
- United Way
- Wyoming Valley
- Greater Hazleton
- Wyoming County
- Bradford County
- Lycoming County
- Greater Berwick
- Columbia County
- Victims Resource Center
- Volunteers of America
- Wellsboro United Fund
- Wyoming County Office of Human Services