Founded in 1975 as the Native American Manpower Program, Native American Community Services has grown into a full-scale human services agency serving the Buffalo, NY region and surrounding Erie and Niagara Counties with a steadfast "Tradition of Caring." What began as a single employment support initiative evolved into a multi-faceted organization addressing the pressing needs of Native American families and the broader community, regardless of background or ethnicity. Recognizing barriers to employment and family stability, NACS expanded significantly following the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, adding advocacy and support services for children and families. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the organization pioneered culturally-based approaches to foster care, substance abuse prevention, and was among the first agencies addressing HIV/AIDS impacts in the local Native community. By the 2000s, NACS extended services to Elders and individuals with developmental disabilities. The organization's commitment to understanding and healing historical trauma deepened with the 2009 co-production of the documentary "Unseen Tears," which explored intergenerational impacts on the local Native population. This work inspired the development of culturally-specific interventions and expanded community programming. Today, NACS continues strengthening and expanding programs to meet the vast needs of its target population while contributing to the vibrancy of the entire Buffalo-Niagara region through holistic, community-centered services.
Buffalo, NY