The announcement last week that The Village Family Service Center and Nokomis Child Care Center are merging continues the Village's tradition of serving families and children. That commitment to the community and region spans more than a century.
Nokomis was founded to provide child care for American Indian children. Today it serves children in need regardless of ethnicity. The Village traces its roots to 1891 when it was established to house and help destitute children. The merger with Nokomis is an excellent fit for the Village's established role as a private nonprofit provider of support for children. The financial health of the Village rescues nonprofit Nokomis from a history of financial struggles. The new stability will guarantee that Nokomis' good work continues under the stability of the Village.
The good news about Nokomis comes just weeks after the Village received a grant of more than $1 million from the Bush Foundation of St. Paul to expand its family preservation programs. The Village provides services in three states (its home is Fargo). Its professional social workers and counselors are recognized for their skill, efficiency and sensitivity when working with families and children in crisis. Its programs also include such wide-ranging services as credit counseling, employee assistance programs and the Big Brother and Big Sister programs.
The Village tends to go about its good work quietly and without fanfare. The Nokomis merger is worthy of a little cheerleading. It means a vital day care service will no longer struggle to stay afloat. It might mean better day care facilities in the future for Nokomis patrons.
And it certainly underscores that the board of directors and management team at the Village remain fully committed to the agency's bedrock historic mission: helping children and families attain safer, healthier, better lives.
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