Family Bridges provides information, resource and referral, education, and support to children, youth and families. 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. We educate 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 partners in the Greene County CATS program, Show Me Kids and MO PIRC and Families as Advocates, Coming Together for Kids.

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

Empowerment Events are held three times per year. Our annual Birthday Bash is a BBQ and swim party held at the Republic Aquatic Center. Our annual campout in held at Shoals Bend in Forsyth and the hay ride and weinner roast is in Verona at the Verona Corn Maize.

The Children's Mental Health Conference is held in April of each year in Branson 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 familiy in obtaining appropriate supports.

Respite care will be availble 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

H.O.P.E. House held an open house for the community on Friday May 30th, 2008

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