FamilyMeans

A place to get and give help. FamilyMeans' mission is to strengthen communities by helping individuals and families* through life's challenges.

*FamilyMeans believes a family consists of people, whether living together or apart, related by blood, marriage, adoption or commitment to care for one another.

Every year, FamilyMeans helps over 16,000 individuals and families navigate life's challenges. Watch this short video to learn more. 

Our Youth Development Initiative in the Landfall and Cimarron mobile-home communities provides the only on-site after-school and summer programming for youth ages 5 – 18. Both communities are home to low-income, diverse and at-risk youth populations that are physically and financially isolated from other after-school or summer activities. Participating youth can explore art, science, music, sports, cooking and technological skill-building in an open, free-choice environment. Listen to Christian's story of how the teen center helped him through high school.

School-Based Mental Health Services provides assessment, treatment and consultation services in the most easily accessed location for students: their schools. School co-location reduces the barriers of transportation, stigma, and finances. Research tells us that 20% of our students are struggling with mental health issues, 13% at a severity that interferes with daily functioning. We also find that only 2 out of 10 of these students are typically identified and treated. FamilyMeans' Counselors are accessible to students in18 schools in 4 districts in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. Listen to Derek's story of how FamilyMeans Counselors in the Wellness Center at Stillwater Area High School saved his life. 

FamilyMeans Counseling & Therapy provides mental health services to families and individuals ages 3 and up by a team of multidisciplinary mental health professionals. Mental health is important at every stage of life. It affects how people handle stress, relate to one another, and make decisions. Untreated mental health is associated with high risk behaviors, isolation, loss of hope, conflict in relationships, unemployment, homelessness and our national increasing rate of suicides. FamilyMeans has outpatient clinics in Stillwater, St. Paul, and Hudson.

FamilyMeans Caregiver & Aging provides education, counseling, information/referral, support groups and group and in-home respite to informal, unpaid caregivers of children and adults, including elders, with functional limitations. We educate and involve the community in emerging issues related to aging, and engage people of all ages in meaningful volunteerism. Watch the video below to learn more about the power of respite!

The Center for Grief & Loss, located in St. Paul, is a specialized mental health program that provides a range of services for grief, trauma, and life transitions. Services are available for children, teens, families, adults and couples. The Center also provides support and therapy in specialized loss groups such as for parent or child loss and suicide survivors. In addition, therapists at the Center partner with our clinic in Stillwater to offer support at organizations, schools, and businesses in the community for their staff or students after traumatic events. 

FamilyMeans Financial Solutions offers budget and credit counseling, debt management, student loan counseling, credit report review counseling, and financial education to help families develop the skills needed to establish and maintain financial stability. Our counselors are trained and certified by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, the national leader in setting high standards and ethical practices for nonprofit agencies. Financial Solutions offices are located in Stillwater, St. Paul, Eau Claire, and Rochester. Over the phone counseling also available. Listen to Shalonda's story of struggling through debt and how FamilyMeans allowed her to rule her debt and future!