Family Service Association is a non-profit agency in San Antonio, Texas. Since 1903, Family Service Association has been “the family you can always count on.” It is the oldest human service agency in San Antonio dedicated to helping children, seniors, and families in need.
Contents
Mission
Helping individuals and families improve their lives and strengthen their communities.
Objectives
From six neighborhood locations and from 32 school campuses, Family Service Association provides services in English and Spanish to the residents of 11 counties of all ethnic and racial backgrounds and all socio-economic levels.
Some of Family Service Objectives are as follows
History
A century of service for the community of San Antonio
1903-1930's
In March, 1903, the doors of a revolutionary new social service agency opened in San Antonio for the first time. The Charity Association of San Antonio and Bexar County, predecessor of Family Service Association of San Antonio, Inc., was founded by a group of public-minded community leaders. Their goal was to provide financial assistance to poor and needy families and prevent their exploitation by unscrupulous individuals. During the following one hundred plus years of uninterrupted service, Family Service Association's objectives and methodologies have changed, but its commitment to its mission of strengthening families has remained constant.
1930's - 1950's
Family Service Association has grown and changed with the twentieth century itself. During the 1930s when the government took responsibility for providing direct financial assistance, private charities began meeting other challenges. For Family Service this was the development of social casework. By the 1950s, Family Service was providing high-quality, professional counseling services to the community of San Antonio.
1960's-1990's
By the mid-1970s, Family Service had identified another need in the community by establishing home-based services and group education for families. In the early 1990s, the agency began providing some much needed services like the first teen-led gang alternative group and implemented the largest Families and Schools Together program in the United States.
During its one hundred years in San Antonio, Family Service Association has also provided leadership in developing other needed services. In collaboration with other community leaders, Family Service helped to fund the local chapter of the American Red Cross . The agency also initiated the City’s Homemaker Department. In 1940, Family Service was a founder of a new federated fund raising group for private charities, the United Fund, known today as the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County.
Throughout Time
Four traits have always characterized Family Service Association: innovative programs, collaboration with others in the community, responsible fiscal management, and an abiding dedication to families. The vision of a handful of leaders in 1903 has impacted hundreds of thousands of lives during Family Service's many years of service. Today the programs of Family Service Association continue to support positive family values, respect the changing role of the family, and assist children, seniors, and families to deal effectively with their problems and challenges. Family Service Association remains a premier resource for San Antonio families.
Financials
Family Service Association is a private, non-profit, non-sectarian agency funded by the United Way, fee-for-service contracts with both public and private organizations, foundation and corporate grants, private contributions, client fees, and outpatient mental health insurance.
Fees are charged on a sliding scale, and no one is denied help because of their inability to pay the full cost of service.
Family Service Association is nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children and the Better Business Bureau.
Family Service Association believes in conservative fiscal management, and balanced budgets. Family Service routinely receives "clean" independent financial audits, and regular recognition by the United Way for outstanding management. In 1903 the agency's annual operating budget was $5,000. The 2009 budget of over $13,400,000 will provide social and early development and educational services for approximately 50,000 individuals & families.
Community Involvement
Family Services Association helps and supports 28 counties around the San Antonio area. Different programs are geared towards each community need.
Demographics Served
The demographics served according to the 2009 annual report lists
Ethnicity Served:
Page text.