Child Saving Institute
For generations, Child Saving Institute has been a trusted partner and community leader by intentionally bringing essential services together in one place so families can build relationships that last. 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.
Child Welfare Services:
- Foster care
- Independent Living Skills (Nebraska)
- Aftercare (Iowa)
- Triage Center
- In home and in school services
Emergency Shelter Services:
- Emergency shelter (Nebraska and Iowa)
Early Childhood Education:
- A.W. Clark Child Development Center
- Spellman Child Development Center
Prevention Service:
- Teen & Young Paren Program (TYPP)
- School & Family Enrichment (SAFE)
- KidSquad
- Pediatric Social Work
- Family Empowerment Program (FEP)
Mental Health Services:
- Outpatient mental health therapy services
- Medication Management
- Psychiatric Medical Institute for Children (PMIC) (Iowa)
- Crisis Stabilization Residential Services (Iowa)
How have you seen the organization make a difference?
Child Saving Institute exists to champion what's best for each child and family. CSI meets people where they are, providing safety, stability and hope. In 2025, CSI supported 4,800 children and families. The 2025 merger with Children's Square in Council Bluffs has expanded CSI's service to multiple communities, allowing CSI to be there when children and families need us most.
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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