Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) is a non-profit organization

Non-profit organization

Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...

 located within Chicago

Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...

’s city and suburban communities responding to the needs of families for over 150 years. Through seven major community centers and public policy advocacy, Metropolitan serves low-income and working-poor families facing a dynamic and ever-changing environment. As an integral part of each community they actively participate and lead the way in helping families realize their amazing strength.

Mission statement

To provide and mobilize the services needed to strengthen families and communities. To be widely acknowledged as a major catalyst and resource for promoting family and community strengths.

The Reason for Metropolitan's success is twofold. First is the organizations ability to understand the even-changing issues and needs in the community and to develop and deliver programs that have a real impact on families…positive, lasting impact.

Frank M. Clark Chairman 2006-2008

1800s

• The organization founded in 1857 by a group of prominent Illinois businessmen, among them Norman B. Judd
  Norman B. Judd
  Norman Buel Judd was a U.S. Representative from Illinois, and the grandfather of U.S. Representative Norman Judd Gould of New York....
  
   and John Kinzie
  John Kinzie
  John Kinzie was one of Chicago's first permanent European settlers. Kinzie Street in Chicago is named after him.-Early life:...
  
  . Under the name Chicago Relief and Aid Society, it became the first official charitable organization in Chicago. During the Civil War, the Chicago Relief and Aid Society formed a soldiers relief committee which provided aid to many of the wounded. Several of the committee members such as: Isaac N. Arnold
  Isaac N. Arnold
  Isaac Newton Arnold was an American politician and biographer. He served two terms in the United States House of Representatives and was known for his support of the abolition of slavery....
  
  , Mark Skinner, John Kinzie
  John Kinzie
  John Kinzie was one of Chicago's first permanent European settlers. Kinzie Street in Chicago is named after him.-Early life:...
  
  , Philip J. Wardner, and Joseph D. Webster became national figures. In 1871 the Great Chicago Fire
  Great Chicago Fire
  The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about in Chicago, Illinois. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S...
  
   consumed the city, leaving over 300 dead and over 100,000 homeless. The Society's board of directors formed a special committee to oversee the relief process. In addition to the $5 Million in donations that were received thousands of tools, sewing machines and other equipment were donated to small business to regain their ability to produce goods, whereas 3,000 small and 5,000 large shelters were produced for the victims. Barracks were built in five locations throughout the burnt district and 64,000 small pox vaccines were administered. According to statistics, between October, 1971 and May, 1873 the Society aided virtually half the population of the city when the fire broke out. The committee did such a job that mayor R.B. Mason was quoted:

I have deemed it best for the interest of the city to turn over to the CHICAGO RELIEF AND AID SOCIETY all contributions for the suffering people of this city.

1900-1940s

• In 1909, with the city population growing and the need for relief rising, the Chicago Bureau of Charities merged with The Chicago Relief and Aid Society to form the United Charities of Chicago. As United Charities, the organization became more active in the community in promoting progressive public polices and addressing health issues such as the Mothers Pension Law Act of 1911. Though programs within the agency continue to be successful, the Great Depression
  Great Depression
  The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
  
   proved to be the agencies greatest trial. The United Charities went from aiding 2,500 families a month in 1928 to over 33,000 by 1931. With the tension of the depression lessening by government intervention by the mid-1930s, the agency was able to focus more on families it could best serve. In 1935, psychiatrists were hired to train the staff and the "Family Service Bureau" was establish, allow the agency to offer family consultation along with it relief efforts.

1950-1960s

• By the 1950s' more attention was focused on "multi-problem" families who struggled with complex social issues, difficult spousal and parent-child relationships, economic housing pressures and mental illness. The Family Service Bureau undertook special projects to help unmarried mothers and their children through the Women's Service Division. In response to increasing demand for services and long waiting lists, in 1963 the organization's board of directors made policy decisions for the family services Bureau, directing program emphases to families with minors and the elderly. The agency also began to show renewed interest in social policy.

1970-1980s

• In 1971, the agency added a department of social affairs (later renamed Social Advocacy) to influence government policy which affected its clients. Emphasis was placed on two areas - how government programs connect with the poor and on influencing legislators related thinking and action towards the poor. Achievements include the passing of the Domestic Violence act of 1982, the Energy Assistance Act of 1985, and the Elder Abuse Act of 1988. The organization also began to seek expansion into Chicago's suburbs, and in 1987 acquired the Family Services of DuPage
  DuPage County, Illinois
  As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 916,924, White Americans made up 77.9% of Dupage County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 70.5% of the population. Black Americans made up 4.6% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.3% of Dupage County's population...
  
   now known as the DuPage Center.

1990-Current

• The 1990s began a new multi-year strategy for the organization. In addition to its high-quality services for individuals and families, emphasis was also placed on strategies to initiate systematic change through social advocacy so that government implementation of polices would be the most effective for families. A major effort to address long term concerns about the agencies name and image cumulated in 1995 with the changing of the name from United Charities to Metropolitan Family Services. The acquisition of the Family Counseling Services of Evanston/Skokie Valley agency and the Child Abuse Prevention Services (CAPS) n 1996 further complemented the strategy and change of the agency. The same year, MFS began operating a Head Start early childhood education program though its Midway Center to serve more than 100 children ages 3 and 4. In 2004, as a result of Mayor Richard Daley's Early Child Care and Education Plan Metropolitan Family Services opened up its second and third child care centers. Today, MFS continues its leadership role and commitment to excellence in serving the changing needs of families and empowering those who are marginalized in society.

Programs and Services

• Child and Youth Development
• Counseling
• Economic Stability
• Employee Assistance Network (EAN)
• Legal Aid
• Mental Health
• Older Adults Services
• Parent Development
• Public Policy
• Violence Prevention and Intervention

Chicago Centers

• Calumet Center in Roseland
  Roseland, Chicago
  Roseland, located on the far south side of the city, is one of the 77 official community areas of Chicago, Illinois. It includes the neighborhoods of Fernwood, Princeton Park, Lilydale, West Chesterfield, Rosemoor, Sheldon Heights and West Roseland...
  
  
• Midway Center in West Lawn
  West Lawn, Chicago
  West Lawn, one of Chicago's 77 official community areas, is located on the southwest side of the city. It is considered to be a "melting pot" of sorts, due to its constant change of races moving in and out of the area, as well as the diversity that exists there. It has a small town atmosphere in...
  
  
• North Center in Portage Park
  Portage Park (Chicago)
  Portage Park is a park in the Portage Park community area of Chicago, Illinois on the National Register of Historic Places. The park stretches from Irving Park Road on the south to Berteau Avenue between Central and Long Avenues...
  
  
• Southeast Chicago Center in South Chicago
  South Chicago, Chicago
  South Chicago, formerly known as Ainsworth, is one of the 77 well-defined community areas of Chicago, Illinois.This chevron-shaped community is one of Chicago's 16 lakefront neighborhoods near the southern rim of Lake Michigan 10 miles south of downtown...
  
  

Suburban Centers

• DuPage Center in Wheaton
  Wheaton, Illinois
  Wheaton is an affluent community located in DuPage County, Illinois, approximately west of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County...
  
  
• Evanston
  Evanston, Illinois
  Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
  
  /Skokie
  Skokie, Illinois
  Skokie is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Its name comes from a Native American word for "fire". A Chicago suburb, for many years Skokie promoted itself as "The World's Largest Village". Its population, per the 2000 census, was 63,348...
  
   Valley Center
• Southwest Center in Palos Hills
  Palos Hills, Illinois
  Palos Hills is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a suburb of Chicago. The population was 17,665 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Moraine Valley Community College as well as Amos Alonzo Stagg High School.-Geography:...