"He shall gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. —Isaiah 40:11
FNS is a non-profit organization. FNS philosophy was envisioned as a way to help people (especially mothers and babies) in rural, low income areas to receive medical assistance that was not easily obtainable in their community. In Wide Neighborhoods, an autobiography written by Mary Breckinridge, this remarkable woman speaks of her decision to help people,
"a decision has come to me and not of myself. Call it what you will-I definitely will follow it with the assurance that I am doing what is right ... I am to work directly for little children now and always--because that is the work I can do best, in which my health and enthusiasm and happiness do not fail."
The tradition started by Mary Breckinridge continues
today.
FNS celebrated 75 years of service in the year 2000. Although the
Service has evolved to meet community needs, the mission of helping
people has not changed. FNS owns and operates
Mary Breckinridge
Healthcare in Hyden, Kentucky, four rural clinics (Beech Fork Clinic,
Community Health Clinic, Kate Ireland Healthcare and the Dr. Anne Wasson
Clinic.
The Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing
consists of a
Master's Science in Nursing education program with specialties in
Nurse-midwifery and Family Nurse Practitioner. FNS looks forward to
many, many more years of service.