Heartland Family Service 8th Annual Dueling Pianos Event Features Art from Local “Celebrities” to Raise Funds for the Homeless

Escape to Cooks Island is the tropical theme that kicks off the 8th annual Heartland Family Service Strike a Chord fundraiser. The event will be held Friday, August 3, at Harrah’s Convention Center, 1 Harrah’s Boulevard in Council Bluffs, from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. Dave and Jody Edwards will host the event. Tickets are $75 per person ($40 is tax-deductible)... Read More

SERVIN’ it UP! Sand Volleyball Classic

The first-annual SERVIN’ it UP! Sand Volleyball Classic is a day for fun-in-the-sun on Saturday, July 14 at The Digz, 4428 South 140 Street in Omaha. Twenty-four teams will compete for awesome prizes in this recreational sand volleyball tournament. Proceeds for the event, hosted by the Heartland Family Service 21-40 Young Professionals Group, benefit the individuals, children and families who are clients of Heartland Family Service... Read More

Promise Partners Grant is Building Stronger Families

The 2011 grant from the Promise Partners Coalition of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, is making a difference in our Iowa Family Works program! The grant is being used to train and implement the Keys to Interactive Parenting Screening (KIPS) model. This tool is essential to enhancing the parent/child relationship at Heartland Family Service’s Iowa Family Works, a residential treatment program for addicted mothers whose children are allowed to live with them during long-term treatment... Read More

Give Your Girls a Great Summer at the Ruth K. Solomon Girls Center!

Teacher Jasmyn Thompson showed Brilynne Smith and Tia Ford how to gently clean out the strawberry patch.

Heartland Family Service has an opportunity for your 5- to 18-year-old daughter to participate in a unique summer program. Our exciting Summer Arts Academy will be held in collaboration with Trinity Lutheran Church at 6340 North 30th Street. The program, which has a strong focus on life skills, leadership and the arts, will run from June 4 to July 27, from 7:30 a.m... Read More

Blue Pinwheels Focus on Child Abuse Prevention

Have you seen blue pinwheels spinning in the breeze? They represent child abuse prevention awareness. This April, Nebraska Child Abuse Prevention Councils are displaying more than 10,000 blue pinwheels to draw attention to the needs of all children and families, highlight resources available, share best practices for prevention and explore what individuals can do to help. The kids at our Omaha Children’s Emergency Shelter helped us “plant” them outside our Central Office, and they also appear at our Sarpy Office in Papillion... Read More

Ann O’Connor Honored by Notre Dame Sisters

Each year at their annual Celebration of Spirit Dinner, the Notre Dame Sisters bestow their highest honor, the Mother Qualberta Award, on an individual who exemplifies the pioneering, service-oriented and generous spirit of Mother Qualberta. This year’s recipient is our own Ann O’Connor, Vice President of Nebraska Community Services. She was honored at the Sisters’ Celebration of Spirit Dinner on Sunday, April 1 at Roncalli Catholic High School... Read More

Safe Haven Golf Event

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Monday, June 4, 2012 marks the date of the 19th Annual Heartland Family Service Safe Haven Golf Event. This event, held at Tiburon Golf Club, 10302 S. 168 Street, will be a four-person scramble. Registration begins at 10:00 a.m., followed by an 11:00 a.m. shotgun start... Read More

HFS Earns Seventh COA Accreditation

HFS has been accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) every four years since 1984. It involves a rigorous, months-long examination of our policies, practices and services, and helps us identify our strengths as well as areas to improve. The official announcement of our most current reaccreditation from the prestigious national COA follows. Read More

Pancake Feed Benefits Sarpy Community Effort

The Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse (CASDA of Sarpy County) will feature a Silent Auction and Raffle at its annual Pancake Feed on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Papillion Fire Station, 146 N. Adams St., Papillion. Volunteer fire fighters of the Papillion Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. will toss the pancakes. Tickets are $5 each (age 4 and older), or $20 for a Family Package... Read More

Seniors are Invited to Heartland Family Service’s 11th Annual “Senior Prom”

The Heartland Family Service Senior Center will hold a “Senior Prom” dinner dance for those over 55 years of age on Sunday, April 22, 2011 from 4:00-7:00 pm. The event will be held at the Field Club, 3615 Woolworth. Tickets for the Prom are $10.00 and must be paid in advance. Registration deadline is April 17. Tickets can be purchased by mail, by phone or online. Mail checks to Heartland Family Service Senior Center, 2101 S... Read More

SALUTE TO FAMILIES NOMINATIONS OPEN

Do you know a family who has strong family values, is loving and caring, encourages individual and marital growth and works well as a team? Nominate that family to be honored in the 2012 Heartland Family Service Salute to Families Recognition Program. Selected families will be recognized in two Salute to Families ceremonies; one in Council Bluffs on November 8, and one in Omaha on November 15... Read More

Gambling Problems Grow as “March Madness” Begins

Soon “March Madness” begins – college basketball tournaments that provide a perfect opportunity for compulsive gamblers to “chase their losses.” During this time, compulsive gambling warning signs will be more obvious to those who live or work with problem gamblers. If the warning signs are present, the first step is to make a phone call to Heartland Family Service at 402-553-3000... Read More

Fifth Annual Heartland Family Service “Carnival of Love” Gala Still a Big Hit

The 2012 “Carnival of Love” Gala fundraiser continued to deliver a casual format and lively entertainment for about 480 guests on February 18that the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in La Vista. The Carnival is in its fifth year, a crowd-pleasing theme that continues to attract those who love to play while they support Heartland Family Service programs that help less fortunate residents of our community. Calliope music, tents and carnival games turned the ballroom into an exciting carnival atmosphere. Long lines formed at Psychic Suzanna’s tent, and the action was quick at the games, including the Wine Toss, Par One Golf, Bean Bag Toss and the “Bring Home the Bacon” pig races. This event is Heartland Family Service’s largest fundraising event of the year, growing in size and popularity since the first event was held in 1991.

The Gala’s 2012 co-chairmen were Karen Burkley and Cindy Hanley, who together with Heartland Family Service Friends Guild volunteers—led by President Mary Zlomke —helped plan and conduct the event. Carol Wang, KMTV evening anchor, served as mistress of ceremonies. Amy Nelson created the centerpieces. Scott Moore, vice president at World Group Commercial Real Estate, called the auction. Appetizers included funnel cake fries, soft pretzels, mini franks and popcorn. The dinner menu included Arugula, Spinach and Beet Salad with Pistachios, an Omaha Steak Filet with a Gorgonzola Peppercorn Sauce and a Tender Chicken Breast Wrapped around Sweet Fresh Mango Chutney and Cranberries, Purple Mashed Potatoes with Horseradish and Broccoli with Toasted Breadcrumb Gremolata. Caramel Apple Cheesecake and Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting were served for dessert.

The Guild’s Junior Friends and Student League volunteers sold raffle tickets, ran invoices to the tables and assisted with the live auction, in which a trip to a Lions vs. Packers At Lambeau Field drew the top bids. Other auction items included trips to New York for a Broadway show and to California for a chauffered tour of Sanoma County wineries.

Funds raised for the Gala will support the mission of Heartland Family Service, which is to strengthen individuals and families in our community. Programs that will receive financial support from Gala proceeds include the Omaha Children’s Emergency Shelter for abused children, the concealed Safe Haven Transitional Shelter for abused women and children, Family Works residential treatment facility for women with infants, Solomon Girls Center and the Senior Center.

The Gala rounds out the 2011-2012 formal activities of the Heartland Family Service Friends Guild, which includes the Safe Haven Golf Event, the Salute to Families Awards, the Student League and the Junior Friends.

For more information about the “Carnival of Love” Gala, about Heartland Family Service, or to become a member of the Friends Guild, contact Caryn Ficco at 402-552-7424 or cficco@HeartlandFamilyService.org.

Heartland Family Service Celebrates the “Carnival of Love” Gala

“Carnival of Love” is the theme of the 2012 annual Gala, hosted by the Heartland Family Service Friends Guild. The February 18, 2012 fundraiser will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center in La Vista at 6:00 p.m. The carnival theme was so well received the past four years that the Friends Guild decided to build and expand on the fun... Read More

Hypnotist Entertains at Comedy Night

Entertainment by hypnotist Ray Thompson will make an unforgettable evening at the 2012 Jefferson House Comedy Night, an event full of fun, food and laughter. “Stand Up for Kids” is the theme of this fundraiser to support children from Dodge County and surrounding areas who are sheltered at the Jefferson House Children’s Emergency Shelter in Fremont. The event begins at 6:00 p.m... Read More

Women’s Fund Helps Keep Families Together

We are excited to announce that the Women’s Fund of Omaha recently presented a $25,000 “Excellence in Service to Women Grant” to Heartland Family Service for our Family Works programs. These two residential substance abuse treatment programs in Omaha and Council Bluffs are unique in keeping families together as mothers and pregnant women receive intensive treatment over several months.

At Family Works, women learn to how overcome their addictions and become better parents at the same time... Read More

Youth Express True Feelings Through Poetry

Portia Love, one of our artists-in-residence from the Bemis Center, has spent the last two months working with the youth at Youth Links, our “triage center” for troubled youth. A well-known writer and musician, Love is teaching the young people various writing styles and the unique technique that is required for poetry and essay writing.

Recently, the youth shared their writings at their first annual Youth Links Poetry Slam... Read More

CD Release Brings Donation from Artist

Beth Asbjornson, an Omaha –based singer and community volunteer, will host a performance to launch her new CD at an event named, Music with a Purpose on Thursday, November 10 at Shadow Ridge Country Club.

The event, presented by Asbjornson and David P. Murphy, starts with cocktails and appetizers at 6:30 p.m., followed by a brief concert. Tickets are $25, which will also include a copy of the new CD entitled, Gratitude. Read More

Ways to Work Award Letter

More good news about our local Ways to Work program! John Jeanetta, our president and CEO, recently received this letter from the Ways to Work National office:

Dear John and Ways to Work Program Staff,

It’s Official! Our 13th Annual Ways to Work Institute was a success. This year, we were honored to host program managers and loan coordinators from close to 30 participating agencies along with a few prospects, giving us a total of over 70 attendees... Read More

Adopt-A-Family Donor Recruitment

Adopt-A-Family NOW!

If you want to make the holidays brighter for a family in need, sign up for the Heartland Family Service Adopt-A-Family program now!

Our annual Adopt-a-Family holiday assistance program is sponsored by our Heartland Family Service Friends guild. The program is designed to help individuals and families with food, clothing and gifts that they couldn’t otherwise afford during the holiday season... Read More

Play Honors Victims and Survivors of Domestic Violence

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. On Tuesday, October 18th, CASDA (Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse) of Sarpy County and Heartland Family Service will present the Angels Theatre Company in a performance of In My Daughter’s Name, a staged reading to honor victims and survivors of domestic abuse. The event will be held at the Hitchcock Humanities Center, Bellevue University, 1000 Galvin Road, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m... Read More

BBB Honors HFS for Ethical Business Practices

We are extremely pleased to announce that the Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently honored Heartland Family Service with its 2011 Integrity Award in the Charity Category. News of this award resulted in delight and satisfaction as it rippled through the staff and board of directors. This is confirmation of our focus on “Good Works” in every aspect of our agency... Read More

Kwik Shop Stores Donate Nearly $18,000 to Help Working Parents Learn How to Build Stronger Credit

We are thrilled to announce that employees of twenty-four Kwik Shops in our area donated nearly $18,000 to the Heartland Family Service Ways to Work program, topping their 2010 donation to the program by more than $2,000. We thank Kwik Shop Regional Director Scott Morgaridge and all the Kwik Shop employees for raising funds for the second year to help eligible families get low-interest car loans to help meet their job and family responsibilities... Read More

Iowa Governor’s Office on Drug Control Policy Honors Local Partners for Meth Prevention Coalition with IDEA Award

The Partners for Meth Prevention (PMP), a metro-wide coalition to prevent methamphetamine abuse, is being honored by the Iowa Governor’s Office on Drug Control Policy (ODCP) on Tuesday, March 29, at 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the MICAH House, 1415 Avenue J, on the Charles E. Lakin Human Services Campus in Council Bluffs. The PMP coalition will receive the State of Iowa’s first annual “Innovation, Determination and Excellence in Action” (or IDEA) award for reducing substance abuse... Read More

New “Ways to Work” Program Offers Low-Interest Car Loans

A recent national evaluation of Ways to Work documented that the program is resulting in strong income gains for borrowers. The evaluation found that working families who have taken out low-cost loans to purchase used cars achieved a 41 percent average increase in take-home pay, and that a majority of those Ways to Work borrowers eventually accessed mainstream financial markets. Read More

Family to Family Class Begins May 1

The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program is a 12-week course for families and friends of individuals with brain disorders called mental illness. The course is taught by trained family members who have lived with this experience. All course materials are furnished at no cost to you.

Many family members describe the impact of this program as life changing. Join the thousands of families just like yours who have gained information, insight, understanding and empowerment... Read More

$10 Million Donation Launches Innovative Human Services Campus in Council Bluffs

“Charles E. Lakin Human Services Campus” is the first of its kind in the U.S.

Council Bluffs, Iowa. (DECEMBER 14, 2005) — The Charles Lakin family announced that they are contributing $10 million to build a non-profit, multi-agency human services campus in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to be called The Charles E. Lakin Human Services Campus. This is a $30 million dollar campaign with construction and equipment cost of $24 million... Read More