JOUR3270 Public Affairs Reporting Research Guide

The Nebraska/SW Iowa Region serves communities across Nebraska and eight counties in Southwest Iowa.

With the world-famous Village of Boys Town as its base, Boys Town Nebraska/Iowa today serves children and families across the Midwest and from across the country.

Catholic Charities ministers to the greatest and most fundamental needs of our community. Since 1926, Catholic Charities has had a rich tradition of serving and advocating for more than 75,000 voiceless, hungry, addicted, abused and forgotten individuals and families annually throughout the area.

The Creighton Center for Service and Justice (CCSJ) engages students in community service, reflection and action on behalf of justice and sustainability as an integral part of their Jesuit, Catholic university education.

Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, Food Bank for the Heartland is a nonprofit organization that serves more than 325 food pantries, emergency shelters, after-school programs, senior housing sites and rehabilitation centers in our area. We are the largest food bank in Nebraska and Iowa, encompassing 93 counties in the two-state region. Fighting hunger is an ongoing, collaborative effort. We work with individuals, organizations, food manufacturers, food distributors, grocery stores and the USDA to procure food and household products. Food Bank for the Heartland also collects resources from Feeding America, a national network of 200 food banks.

The Food Bank of Iowa is a private, charitable,not-for-profit organization committed to our mission of alleviating hunger through food distribution, partnership and education.

Heartland Family Service is a non-profit, non-sectarian counseling agency, founded in 1875. The mission of the agency is to strengthen individuals and families in our community through education, counseling and support services. From sixteen locations, we serve people of all ages and all incomes — most on a sliding fee scale.

The Jewish Community Center has been a big part of Omaha for more than eight decades! We opened our doors in 1925 and still today continue to serve everyone in the community with our state-of-the-art facilities, outstanding programs and dedicated staff. We’ve been here in the past, we’re here today and we’ll be here tomorrow.

Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska expresses God´s love for all people by providing quality human care services that build and strengthen individual, family, and community life.

The Department of Health and Human Services provides important and, oftentimes, life-sustaining services to Nebraskans. Our mission, "Helping people live better lives," provides the motivation to find ways to effectively provide these services and make a difference in the lives of so many people.

Finding out your loved one has a mental, emotional, or behavioral health disorder is a staggering experience. This is a time you need hope and real help. The good news: Help is available. The Nebraska Family Support Network is there for such families because they have been there themselves. NFSN employs Family Partners to provide peer mentoring services.

n many ways, America is the land of plenty. But for 1 in 6 people in the United States, hunger is a reality. Many people believe that the problems associated with hunger are confined to small pockets of society, certain areas of the country, or certain neighborhoods, but the reality is much different. Right now, millions of Americans are struggling with hunger. These are often hard-working adults, children and seniors who simply cannot make ends meet and are forced to go without food for several meals, or even days.

In August of 1993 Rev. Harry and Ginny Wallar felt the call of God to go across the river from Omaha, Nebraska to Council Bluffs, Iowa to begin a work for God. They rented Margarites Catering Hall and the Christian Worship Center Ministries was born. They began with a meager 6 people at their first service. Every Sunday they would set up sound equipment, instruments, and chairs just like a sanctuary. The second Sunday church attendance doubled to 12 and then the next Sunday 36. CWC remained at Margarites Catering for 8 months New Visions Homeless Services, formerly Christian Worship Center (CWC) was founded in 1995 in Council Bluffs by Reverend Harry and Ginny Wallar, with a mission of eliminating hunger and homelessness in Council Bluffs and surrounding communities.

Open Door Mission is a Gospel Rescue Mission founded in 1954 committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Each day, Open Door Mission’s campus offers 816 safe, shelter beds to homeless men, women and children, serves over 1,800 hot, nutritious meals and provides preventive measures to more than 275 people living in poverty.

Project Homeless Connect Omaha ("PHCO"), is a 501C(3) organization. The first event launched on April 11, 2008 on the campus of Creighton University, hosted by Father John P. Schlegel, S.J. President of Creighton University. 100% of all donations to PHCO are used for the homeless.

We exist to provide food and clothing to people in need. In response to God's grace, we minister to people in need with a spirit of hope, love, encouragement, compassion, respect and teamwork.

Founded in 1975, the Siena/Francis House is Nebraska’s largest shelter and is located in three facilities at 17th & Nicholas Streets in downtown Omaha, Nebraska. The Siena/Francis House provides emergency overnight shelter to men, women, and women with children. The Siena/Francis House also provides food to the homeless through our Meal Provider Program, clothing, and case management outreach services through our day services program.

Volunteers make home visits to those in need to provide person-to-person services, including arranging utility assistance and assisting with housing and transportation needs. The Society also operates 4 Omaha thrift stores and a food pantry.

Stephen Center partners with the community, families and individuals to overcome homelessness, addiction and poverty.

The Magis Clinic, with assistance from our partners, provides free healthcare and referrals to existing community services. It is the only free medical clinic in Omaha open on Saturdays that treats homeless men, women, children, and the medically uninsured.

The Salvation Army, an international movement,
is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church.
Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

United Way is a powerful partnership of people and organizations -- across the Omaha-Bellevue-Council Bluffs metro area -- who care about our community's future. We recruit those who have the passion, expertise and resources we need to get things done. Together, we create life-changing opportunities in Education, Financial Stability and Health -- the building blocks of a good life -- so our neighbors can grow stronger and remain independent.

Welcome to our Omaha, Nebraska page. We provide listings of: women's shelters, family shelters, transitional housing, residential treatment centers and other residential services for women. Many shelters also provide services such as alcohol and drug rehab treatment along with clinics, and best of all supportive housing options. I try to provide as much information as possible on my details pages.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support of the Y! It is hard to imagine that the year is coming to an end. During 2011 our Y has been busy implementing new approaches, getting our message out and more importantly impacting people in our community.