Who We Are      Our History      Mission       Board of Directors       Advisory Committee       Employees

Who Are We?

 We are a non-profit, family-run, interdenominational organization that provides peer to peer (family to family) support. We provide information, education, and support to families raising children with social, emotional and behavioral challenges, developmental disabilities and/or special health care needs.

 We Believe:

• Parents are the experts when it comes to their children
• There is no place like home
• There is no place like community
• Everyone needs friends to thrive
• Natural Supports are critical to success
• Children and Families have the right to fail just as much as they have the right to succeed
• All families should feel welcomed into their local places of worship
• Places of worship should be a sanctuary for families regardless of their child's diagnosis
• Public schools should welcome all children within their community
• Families should be able to pick and choose the services and supports that best fit their needs
• Not being able to speak, does not mean you have nothing to say
• In supporting a young adult with a developmental disability or other diagnosis, the least amount of intrusive intervention possible should be used. ( For example full guardinship should not be awarded, if they could manage their life and be safe with only partial, medical or no guardinahip)

We Desire:

• To be an inspiration to other families that are experiencing similiar challenges
• To offer infomation to communities about becoming more inclusive and assesible
• To give educators the tools needed to engage the families of children and youth who have various challenges and diagnoses
• To bring encouragment to the children and youth whose families we serve
• To provide education and support to the faith community
• To allow families to guide us in assisting them in their journey
• To partner with our local system of care
• To re-educate service providers when asked or needed
• To be a becan of light to those around us

 It is the job of the oppressed to teach the oppressor!

This Symbol Does NOT Define Our Children!

We Are: Dedicated to building family to family connections and linking families to resources and services within their local system of care.

Family Bridges staff and volunteers are primarily parents and family members of children with social, emotional and behavioral challenges, developmental disabilities, and/or special health care needs.

We Serve: As an "Organizational Bridge" to bring families and services providers to the same table.

FAMILY

Bringing

Relevant

Information

Delivering

Genuine

Enthusiasm to

Systems of Care

What is a System of Care?

A System of Care is any coordinated network of agencies and providers that make a full range of necessary services available as needed by children, youth and their families. If your child has a social, emotional or behavioral challenge, developmental disability or special health care need then you should be able to access coordinated services and supports.

Values and Principles of systems of Care

Core Values-systems of care are:

• Youth-guided and family-driven
• Community-based; and
• Culturally and linguistically competent

Principles-systems of care provide for:

• Service coordination or case management;
• Prevention and early identification and intervention;
• Smooth transitions among chiland youth-serving agencies and providers, and to the adult service system;
• Human rights protection and advocacy;
• Nondiscrimination in access to services
• A comprehensive array of services;
• individulized service planning;
• Services in the least restrictive enviornment;
• Family participation in ALL aspects of planning, services delivery, and evaluation; and
• Intragrated services, with coordinated planning across the child-serving systems.

 Philippians 4:13   I can do ALL things through Christ who strenghtens me!