Did you know Family Services Incorporated (FSI) traces its roots back to 1928?

When the agency started out 82 years ago as an affiliation with the Children's Aid Society of Pennsylvania, its main objective was to care for orphans and destitute children in order to prevent commitment of these children to county homes, county jails and reformatories.

Today Family Services provides 12 services to approximately 2,420 individuals and families per year. FSI provides its expertise and support in the following areas: offering shelter services and specialized housing; targeting prevention of abuse and victimization; empowering those dealing with the results from abuse and victimization; and assisting victims of trauma from events or relationships in their lives.

Two years ago, Family Services took over the operation of the Emergency Shelter Project (ESP), a homeless shelter for men, women and children that was started in the mid 1990's. The ESP numbers are staggering. In the last twelve months, staff received 573 calls to the ESP with 179 men, women, and children receiving shelter services and support. The most telling number is that 394 calls requesting shelter services were turned away from ESP because the shelter was full.

SWOOP (Street Wise Outreach and Opportunity Program) provides 4 types of outreach: street, school, community and internet-based. Last year, our outreach workers, C.J. Grum and Serena Heller, made contact with over 90000 youth. They have provided 35 presentations to schools and community organizations focusing on internet safety and social networking.

Witnessing violence between one's parents is the strongest risk factor of transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next. Last year, 125 children were provided services at the Domestic Abuse Shelter. In addition to providing a safe haven to these young people, this Shelter supported 152 women looking to create a home environment without fear. Residential programs for children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities were established in Blair County in the mid 1970's. Today, Family Services operates 10 residences that 27 adults call home.

Last year, Family Services provided counseling services with over 1,650 hours of counseling to 134 individuals, families and partners. The goal of this program is to help to improve life skills, such as: problem-solving, decision-making, communicating and life management.