Families     Educators    System of Care Partners    Faith Entities     Communities

We Provide Services and Supports in the Southwest Missouri Area:

You do NOT have to cross that bridge alone!

Family Bridges provides information, resource and referral, education, and support to families whose children or youth have social, emotional or behavioral challenges, developmental disabilities and/or special health care needs. We assist in preparation for IEP and 504 educational planning meetings. Family Bridges is  available to give families assistance and support in beginning and sustaining their WRAP around meetings as well as goal setting. Youth Standing Tall educates youth on self direction and self advocacy, including transition planning. We have staff and volunteers who are available to provide support in other areas and meetings as requested and appropriate.

We are available to provide limited supports and services to educators, system of care partners, faith entities and communities.

Youth, parents and caregivers can make appointments to come to the Springfield  office and utilize the Internet and free long distance to conduct research about available services and/or their child's diagnosis.

The Children's Mental Health Conference is held in May of each year at the Resort at Port Arrowhead in Lake Ozark, Missouri.

H.O.P.E.  House in Willard Missouri is an innovative respite program that will allow families to take ownership in sustaining respite services for their children. There is a shortage of available funds for respite services for children and youth with various types of disabilities.Through this service parents/caregivers may choose to submit to a background screening and attend the required workshops and training to volunteer as a direct respite caregiver in exchange for free respite care for their child. The staff to child ratio is one to four with a maximum of eight children/youth. At times this ratio will be smaller if a child requires a higher level of care of support. On a limited basis we will provide one-on-one care as we currently do at all of our support meetings and empowerment events. H.O.P.E. House provides a creative,safe and fun respite that includes opportunities for socialization with peers, community inclusion, skills building and character education. Children and youth who are in a current mental health crisis or who are medically vulnerable are not appropriate for this service. Family Bridges will however, attempt to assist the family in obtaining appropriate supports.

Respite care will be available from Friday evening at 5:00 PM to Sunday evening at 5:00 PM. Other times will be available on a case by case basis. The strategic plan is to eventually provide care on a full time basis as funds and trained volunteers become available. If you are interested in becoming a trained respite volunteer at H.O.P.E. House please send a letter of intent to thefamilybridges@aol.com

 Family Bridges H.O.P.E. House is about families helping families help themselves...

Empowerment Events are held three times per year.

• Our annual Birthday Bash is a BBQ and Swim party held at the Willard Aquatic Center in celebration of the anniversary of Family Bridges
• The annual Family Camp-out provides an opportunity for children, youth and families to get closer to nature, while participating in activities that promote strengthening self-esteem and family bonding. ( We are currently searching for a new location for the camp out)
• The Fall Celebration is in October of each year at the Verona Corn Maize. Children, youth and families come together for good old fashion fun, which includes a Weiner roast, hay ride, pumpkin chucking, cow train rides, and much more. Some families choose to stay and venture through the legendary corn maize.