Child Saving Institute
Child Saving Institute opened its doors to children in 1892 to “respond to the cry of a child.” They remain steadfast to their work ensuring families in need, regardless of their ability to pay, have the support they need to be the best family they can be. CSI programs make the community stronger by preventing abuse, neglect and trauma by intervening early and addressing situations that put children and families at risk. The programs include child welfare services, emergency shelter, early childhood education, prevention service and mental health services.
What services do you provide?
Child Saving Institute (CSI) provides the following services:
Child Welfare Services
- Foster care/kinship
- Permanency services
- Adoptive/placement home studies
- Independent Living Skills
- Triage Center
- In home services
Emergency Shelter Services
- Emergency Shelter
- Missing Youth Services
Early Childhood Education
- Early Childhood Education Center
- Spellman Child Development Center
Prevention Service
- Teen & Young Parent program
- School & Family Enrichment program
- KidSquad
- Pediatric Social Work
- Family Empowerment program
Mental Health Services
- Outpatient mental health services
How have you seen the organization make a difference?
Child Saving Institute opened its doors to children in 1892 to “respond to the cry of a child” – the agency in its infancy existed in broad strokes: shelter children, feed children and love children. Science clearly shows that early experiences shape the architecture of the developing brain. Healthy and strong development lays the foundation for behavioral and emotional regulation skills critical to academic achievement, healthy relationships, productive employment, financial security and a life which thrives. Programs apply a two-generational approach because a child’s learning starts well before formal learning emphasizing the maxim “start early and start well.”
Is there anything you wish more people knew about your organization?
CSI remains steadfast to its work ensuring families in need, regardless of their ability to pay, have the supports they need to be the best family they can be. CSI programs make the community stronger by: Preventing abuse, neglect and trauma by intervening early and addressing situations that put children and families at risk. It also builds and strengthens client and family resiliency for coping with past, present or future adverse experiences while providing therapeutic support for children who have been abused and neglected or have experienced other trauma. They also provide quality out-of-home placement options for children removed from their homes.
How can people get connected/involved?
For volunteer opportunities, visit www.childsaving.org or call 402.553.6000
Testimonial
David was referred to SAFE for behavior, social emotional and mental health concerns. David started the SAFE program as a first grader. David was having a difficult time adjusting back to in-person learning and communicating his feelings. He had a difficult time engaging in conversation and would show frustration when he could not explain what he was thinking.
His SAFE Family Support Specialist, Grace, focused on teaching David emotion words and verbalizing his thoughts. At a recent school visit, David returned from recess with two large band-aids on his elbow and knee. David explained he had fallen on the concrete while running and that his scrapes were still bothering him. Grace could tell that he was distracted by the pain and needed a little time to recover. Instead of moving along with the social emotional activity as planned, Grace asked what he would like to do during the visit. David said the whole class was drawing and that he did not want to miss out. Grace took this opportunity to reinforce classroom participation, so his request started a game of “guess what animal I’m drawing.”
David started to draw an animal and provided hints for Grace. The hints included that the animal lived in Africa, had 1,000 legs, was super-fast and did not live at the Omaha Zoo. David’s picture included a detailed animal head with two large eyes, two pointy ears and all the colors of the rainbow. Grace began guessing and David was laughing the whole time as Grace guessed incorrectly. David was encouraging Grace to keep guessing by saying things like “don’t give up,” “keep trying” and “you can do this.” During this activity, Grace praised him on his excellent hints and using kind words with Grace. By using hints, David was describing what he was thinking and increasing his communication skills. Grace was so proud of how well he was communicating! Eventually Grace did have to give up on the guessing game…David was elated to tell Grace that his animal was a wolf! A rainbow wolf with 1,000 legs, that is!
David insisted it was Grace’s turn to draw an animal. Grace’s lack of drawing skills started another fit of giggles from David. David was much quicker to guess the animal correctly, a rhino. The visit ended with a stronger student-Family Support Specialist relationship, emotion regulation and communication skills along with a huge smile from David.
Contact Information
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