National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers

The National Federation of Settlements (NFS) was founded in 1911 by leaders in the settlement house movement, including Jane Addams, Graham Taylor, and Robert A. Woods. The NFS was a social welfare organization devoted to the promotion and improvement of the settlement movement throughout the United States. The social settlement was based on the idea that those who wanted to help the poor would live ("settle") in the neighborhoods that they hoped to improve, often in a building purchased or donated by a benefactor. Often, settlement workers were young, female graduates of education and nursing programs or women's colleges. They endeavored to improve the lives of their working class, often immigrant, neighbors though social reform, educational programs, health services, and "friendly example" or "uplift." The Federation worked with member settlements to strengthen and develop their programs and the well-being of their surrounding neighborhoods, to represent settlement concerns in public affairs, and to educate the public about social issues affecting neighborhoods. The NFS renamed itself the National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers in 1949. In 1979, the Federation's name was changed again to United Neighborhood Centers of America (UNCA). UNCA continues to advocate nationally for social legislation and work with local member agencies to address social problems at the neighborhood level.

From the description of National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers records, 1891-1984. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 436028046

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