Family Services Association of Boyle County: A helping hand to those in need for more than a century

Historical Marker #2527 celebrates the 100+ years that the Family Services Assocaition of Boyle County has worked to improve the lives of local residents. 

Founded in the second decade of the twentieth century, the organization that became the Family Services Association of Boyle County drew on the contribtions of locals to apply to latest models of social work to adress the challenges of the era. The group strove for real solutions to the evolving problems that Boyle Countians faced, including during the difficult years of the Great Depression. The men and women who have kept the assocatition running for more than a century have played key intermediary roles for many struggling Kentuckians, helping them to identify and access resources to meet their needs. 

Dr. Milton Scarborough of Centre College, who has longstanding ties to the Association, was instrumental in getting the historical marker placed. It serves as a capstone to his research into the history of the organization, which also yielded a book, A Century of Compassion at Community House: A History of Family Services Assocation of Boyle County, Kentucky. 

Historical Marker #2527 was dedicated October 13, 2017.

The marker reads:

Family Services Association of Boyle County

On June 1, 1916, representatives

of local churches, civic clubs and

Centre College, inspired by Hull

House and the Progressive Era,

founded the Community Work Board

(CWB), which made social work

scientific, opposed begging; gave

coal, meals, and clothes to the

needy; taught woodworking, cooking,

sewing, chair-caning. It opened

a public laundry, bath. Over.

Assisted the FERA, WPA, CCC and 

trained Depression workers for 

other counties. Started playground

and Bible school; provided space

for Red Cross & Habitat for

Humanity. Helped start what 

became the United Way and

established the Senior Citizens

Center. Adopted the name "Family

Services Association of Boyle 

County" in 1970.