LifeScene has been serving the residents of Greater Lynn and surrounding communities since 1885, and its history provides a window into the evolution of social services over 140 years.

Our Day Nursery of the 1880’s gave way to the beginnings of family day care services in the early 20th century. Family day care has since become a private enterprise, run primarily by women entrepreneurs in the community, and LifeScene supports them with opportunities for professional development and access to quality resources and facilities that supplement what they can provide to the children in their care.

The Lynn Home for Children cared for “destitute children” until 1924 when services were developed that worked to preserve families whenever possible. Counseling for individual children and their parents has expanded to include parent education and support groups as well as activity groups for children and adolescents. Services previously available only in “the clinic” are now also delivered in more accessible, diverse community locations, such as the schools, homeless shelters, Head Start and public housing.