[pictured above l-r: FSR Executive Directors Brad Lohrbach, Glenn VanLaningham, and Scott Maloney]
“...The agency has never stood still or become stagnated.... The community has provided its support. The people of this area have never been willing to overlook those in need.... As the community has grown and the needs have changed, so has our organization.”
- Glenn VanLaningham, Executive Director 1965 - 1995
Family Service Rochester, Inc., was registered as a non-profit corporation in the City of Rochester, under the laws of the State of Minnesota, on May 22, 1964, with the name, Family Consultation Center, Inc. The original thirteen signers had constituted a steering committee appointed by the United Fund of Rochester to study the feasibility of forming a family service agency to serve the people of Rochester, Minnesota.
Our original board members included: Katherine Keith, President; Elenor Kirklin, VP; Thomas Kokesh, Treasuer; Florence Barker, S. A. Christian, Mary Margaret DeShance, Wesley Ewert, Russell Gangsted, and John Gowan
The organization opened its doors on Feb. 1, 1965 with Glenn VanLaningham as its first Executive Director. Under his directorship, the agency grew from a staff of one to 65. Glenn was known for his strong leadership, working with his staff and Board of Directors to develop cooperative ventures with other agencies to meet emerging and changing needs of the community. During his tenure the agency expanded from its adoption of a fledgling homemaker program operated by the Civic League in the 1960s to mergers in the 1990s with the Rochester Branch of Consumer Credit Counseling Services, and Sunrise, a chemical dependency treatment program. Glenn retired from FSR in 1995 after 30 years. After his retirement, he substituted regularly as a driver for FSR’s Meals-on-Wheels program and delivered one of the routes each week.
Brad Lohrbach assumed the position of Executive Director in 1995. Under his leadership FSR saw growth in our Child Welfare programs as a strong partnership with Olmsted county was solidified. Under his leadership, we developed a robust volunteer model of service that is still being used and grown. He helped advance Family Involvement Strategies with FSR being a leader in this model of service in the nation. He implemented strong quality assurance and outcome-based measurements to assure our programs were making a difference. He also initiated FSR’s efforts focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. After 38 years with FSR and 20 years as the Executive Director he retired in 2015 with a staff of 85 employees.
In 2015, Scott Maloney, who had been with FSR since 2000, was promoted from Director of Child Welfare and Adult Services to Executive Director. Since then we have continued to see growth in program opportunities and staff. During Scott’s tenure the organization’s annual budget has tripled. Most of FSR’s expansion has been related to growing community needs to address mental health and senior independence. FSR has also grown our service area geographically, now serving 12 counties. Scott prioritizes employee satisfaction and engagement recognizing the positive outcomes for the consumers we serve cannot be accomplished without a great team. He has implemented many employee initiatives around wellness by listening to what staff need. Scott currently leads a staff of 120.
In 2025 Family Service Rochester will celebrate of 60 years of service to Rochester and Southeast Minnesota.
1964 Legally Registered as a Non-Profit May 26, 1964, with the name Family Consultation Center, Inc. First President of the Board Dr
Katherine Keith. Mission: To help people cope with the stresses of everyday living.
1965 Officially open as Family Counseling Services, February 1, 1965. Glenn Van Laningham, Executive Director.
Office Above Massey’s Department Store
1965 March 1st located offices in the lower level of the Professional Services Building in SW Rochester.
1965 April 15th- Homemaker Program started 85% of the clients were families with children. Within 10 years that switched to 85% were home care over the age of 65.
1965 October First Annual Meeting: Theme The Family Service Agency-It's Responsiveness to the Community.
1967 New building across from YMCA-shared with 3 other United Way member agencies.
1969 Child Welfare Services started.
1970 Placement Setting for Students Internships developed the Clinical Academy.
1971 Started Parent Effectiveness Training courses offered and eventually dropped the program.
1971 Dissolution and Custody Planning and Homemaker for the elderly started.
1972 Meals on Wheels started in March.
1976 Senior Companions started.
1981 Mediation Training Services for judges, social service staff members, and family practice committee.
1983 Overnight and weekend Homemaker Services (Renamed Respite Care) and home maintenance and repairs for elderly started.
1984 Moved into the United Way Building joining 8 other agencies.
1985 Effective April 1st New name: Family Counseling and Home Services, Inc.
1990 First Daniel Kolb Memorial Golf Classic for Meals on Wheels.
1991 Merged with Consumer Credit Counseling and Sunrise Youth and Family Counseling Family Counseling and Home Services adopted as new name.
1992 Changed Name from Family Counseling and Home Services to Family Service Rochester January 1, 1992. A computer network was installed to automate schedules. Also started “the Volunteer Vision.”
1995 After 30 years Glenn Vanlangingham retired, and Brad Lohrbach became the new Executive Director.
2015 Neighbors Helping Neighbors kick off with Mayor Proclamation of October 26-30, 2015 as Neighbors Helping Neighbors Week.
2020 January 2020 designated by the Olmsted County Board as the lead agency for Age Friendly Olmsted County.
2024 Family Resource Center developed.
“As one can see from this history, the agency has never stood still or become stagnated. We have been blessed by Board Members who had the ability, vision and courage to look ahead. They have accepted the challenges as thy have been identified, and located the resources, both financial and human, to resolve the issues at hand.
The community has provided its support. The people of this area have never been willing to overlook those in need, and their support has been generous to those organizations who demonstrate the ability to accomplish the tasks necessary.
As the community has grown and the needs have changes, so has our organization.”
- Glenn VanLaningham, Historical Review 1965-1988
