Nebraska Children's Home Society

Throughout our history – through every new program, every transition and every step forward, our focus has remained the same: we put children first. To us, “Children First” means focusing on the child, making their needs a priority, and caring for them by supporting the people around them, from parents, grandparents and siblings to caregivers and teachers. At every age, in growth, struggles and success, children are at the heart of all we do. In 1883, the Children’s Home Society movement ignited a flame that would soon spread across the country. The national non-profit was founded on providing a broad spectrum of child-focused services, advocating for the well-being of children everywhere, and influencing public policy in favor of society’s youngest members. Ten years later, Dr. E.P. Quivey, a chaplain at the Iowa State Reformatory, brought that mission to Nebraska. Through his experiences, he believed that the problems young boys at the Reformatory faced would be solved by placing them in decent homes. Quivey and his wife became affiliated with the national organization, and their work began. Despite early struggles and societal changes, the Quivey’s organization thrived. On February 1, 1924, Nebraska Children Home Society opened its first building, a “receiving station” for children to receive temporary care while waiting for a permanent home. In 1984, the first greater Nebraska office was opened in Scottsbluff. Today, Nebraska Children’s Home Society continues to facilitate adoptions and provide foster care, but our services have expanded to serve children and families in dozens of other ways. Our founding Receiving Station has transformed into the Children