The story of Family & Children’s Service is in many ways the story of Niagara Falls , Niagara County and the story of the development of social work and social services in the twentieth century.

The City of Niagara Falls was incorporated in 1892 (the Governor Flowers signed the papers on St. Patrick’s Day) and by 1895 Niagara Falls , New York was evolving from a small town into an industrial city.

Many families amassed great wealth as the industrial base of the city grew.  At the same time thousands of immigrants came to the area to find work.   With large numbers of people migrating to the area, the number of people in society needing help also increased. O.W. Cutler, editor of the Daily Cataract, “crusaded for the idea of ‘better organized charity work’”  Mr. Cutler persuaded the Gorge Road and Niagara Falls and Suspension Bridge Railway companies to give part of the proceeds of one week’s travel over their roads to start a new charity.  He called a meeting and invited all women who were interested in starting a new charity to be called the Charity Organization Society. Sixteen women met on June 1, 1895, and the rest is history.  The initial goals were to:

1. To be a center of inter-communication between the various churches and charitable agencies in the city; to foster harmonious cooperation between them; 
2. To prevent children from growing up as paupers; and
3. To carefully work out such plans for helping families to help themselves, thereby becoming self-dependent.

In the early years the work of the organization was carried out by the unpaid, volunteer efforts of the members themselves. Women, appointed by ward to be “investigators,” would visit families in the community to give help and to encourage interest in the agency.   As the needs of the community became more complex, the need for trained staff became evident.  Since December 1925, the agency has operated with a staff of paid professional social workers.  But the role of the volunteer directors has remained critically active.  Today we call these volunteers our Board of Directors.

Since 1895 Family & Children’s Service of Niagara has met the ever-changing needs of our community.   Thousands of children, adults and families have turned to the agency for compassionate, affordable and professional help to meet their needs.  Our the years our name has changed and our services have been modified to meet the needs of the community in the 21^st century, but our work of helping people help themselves has remained.