Our History

Family Services of the Merrimack Valley was established in 1854 as the Lawrence City Mission. During its first 70 years, the organization was primarily concerned with providing material assistance to newly arrived mill workers in the City of Lawrence.  With the advent of the New Deal and in the 1930’s, the organization shifted its mission to align with trends in the field of social work which focused on self-improvement and counseling. This shift inspired a name change to reflect its new focus, and the City Mission became Family Service Association of Greater Lawrence (FSAGL).

The 1980s brought another significant shift as the organization expanded to provide group programs focused on care and prevention. Since 1985, the organization has grown from a staff of seven to a staff of 1200+ providing over 20 treatment, prevention, and outreach and education programs. In 2013, Family Services adopted a new name… Family Services of the Merrimack Valley, which reflects the growth in the scope and reach of its services over its 170-year history.

Our Mission

Family Services empowers, nurtures and supports children and families through life’s challenges to help them reach their full potential.

Our Vision

Family Services envisions a future where all individuals are able to care for themselves, care for their loved ones, contribute meaningfully to their community.

Our Values

  • Nurturing: We believe that the development of individuals, children and families should be fostered through kindness, encouragement and support.
  • Sustainable Solutions: We believe that personal potential and lasting success is achieved by delivering strategies and skills that empower individual to help themselves.
  • Quality: We are committed to providing the highest quality programs and services grounded in evidence-based best practices in the field of human services.
  • Passion: We are dedicated to developing relationships and providing services that make an impactful and positive difference in people’s lives.
  • Community Focused: We are committed to serving individuals and families in the entire Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts.
  • Cultural Competence: We believe in honoring the individuality of all those we serve and meeting the diverse cultural, linguistic and social service needs of individuals and families in our community.