Family Support Services

• Children's Out of Home Respite Care
• Parenting Skills Classes
• Social Skills Training
• Child Abuse Counseling
• Play Therapy
• Crisis Nurseries/Child Care
• Sexual Assault Prevention
• General Counseling Services
• Developmental Assessment
• Stress Management

Janelle Christensen, MSW, Executive Director

Stuart Harper, LCSW

Larry A. Krause, BSW, MSW: Specializes in treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder and child centered play therapy.

See website or contact for additional provider names and specialties. All providers may not provide all services

Strives to meet the underserved community’s need for health and well-being by providing early childhood education, health outreach, legal immigration direct services, and crime victim support at low to no cost to clients.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Main office is closed; still providing services to clients through virtual platforms. Fill out the contact form on the website to make an appointment.

• Extended Child Care
• Family Support Centers/Outreach
• Community Based Preschools
• Case/Care Management
• Prenatal Care
• Parent Counseling
• General Expectant/New Parent Assistance
• Comprehensive Immigration/Naturalization Services
• Summer Camps
• Crime Victim Support

1. Relocation Assistance Program - assistance to personnel moving to or from Hill Air Force Base.
2. Transition Assistance Program - employment assistance is provided to individuals who are separating or retiring from active duty or civilians leaving federal service.
3. Employment Assistance Program - aids spouses in their search for local area employment.
4. Personal Financial Management - basic budgeting, check writing, and credit card education. Financial training for first term airmen.
5. Family Life Education - personal and family education and assessment counseling. Topics include communication and problem solving skills, parenting classes, child and family development, time and life management, managing stress, and single parent support.
6. Family Readiness Program - assists DoD personnel and families prepare for and cope with separations due to deployments, remote tours, disasters, and evacuations.
7. Information and Referral - provides accurate, up-to-date information and referral to on and off base agencies and services for individuals and families.
8. Volunteer Resources Program - matching volunteers with opportunities to work, learn new skills, meet new people, and develop a better resume/portfolio of experience. Coordinates base volunteer activities and recognition.

Provides education and supportive services to strengthen the family unit and enhance family functioning. Parents who are stressed, need a break, have an emergency arise, or have no one else to help care for their children may receive assistance. Offers general counseling, child abuse counseling, anger management classes, and parenting groups.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Temperature and hand check will be done, along with recent background history asked as far as who/what/where children and parents have been. If there has been exposure, no accommodations can be made, but help with options offered.

• Parenting Skills Classes
• Stepfamily/Blended Family Support Groups
• Child Care Volunteer Opportunities
• Child Abuse Counseling
• Children's In Home Respite Care
• Transitional Housing/Shelter
• Home Based Parenting Education
• General Counseling Services
• Anger Management

M-Sat 9-5, West Valley 24/7.
50% State funding

Family Support Centers located throughout Utah

Susan M. Dezell, LCSW
Insight-oriented, Supportive, Psyc Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-focused, Dialectical Behaviorial Therapy, Parent Child Interaction Training, Play Therapy, Sand Tray Therapy, Psycho-education and Parent Management training. Specializes in Depression, Anxiety, Attachment, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Family and Couples, Step-family and Adoption Issues.

Bonnie Peters, MSW, LCSW
Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Trauma-focused. Specializes in Depression, Anxiety, Attachment, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Oppositional Defiant/Conduct Disorder, Abuse/Neglect, Domestic Violence and Adoption.

• Parent Support Groups
• Special Education
• Specialized Information and Referral

Provides education and supportive services including general, child abuse, and sexual assault counseling, and works to strengthen the family unit and enhance family functioning.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Child and parent must be in good health. Temperature and lice check will be done upon arrival. Call for availability and to schedule. Priority given to urgent respite need. Most counseling being done remotely (tele-health), with some in-person availability. Call, email, or visit website for information.

• Crisis Nurseries/Child Care
• General Counseling Services
• Child Abuse Counseling
• Sexual Assault Counseling

Other locations: West Valley, Sugar House

• Family Counseling
• Home Based Parenting Education
• Child Abuse Prevention
• Crisis Nurseries/Child Care
• Parenting Skills Classes
• Children's Out of Home Respite Care
• Specialized Information and Referral

Provides child abuse prevention and parenting classes, a Resource Lending Library, and supports parents and guardians as they strive to provide a healthy, happy environment for their children. Related volunteer opportunities.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Temperature and hand check will be done, along with recent background history asked as far as who/what/where children and parents have been. If there has been exposure, no accommodations can be made, but help with options offered.

• Disability Related Parenting Programs
• Parenting Skills Classes
• Parent Support Groups
• Crisis Nurseries/Child Care
• Child Abuse Prevention
• Child Care Volunteer Opportunities

Provides education, a crisis nursery, and supportive services to strengthen the family unit and enhance family functioning.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Child and parent must be in good health. Temperature and lice check will be done upon arrival. Call for availability and to schedule. Priority given to urgent respite need. Most counseling being done remotely (tele-health), with some in-person availability. Call, email, or visit website for information.

• Crisis Nurseries/Child Care
• Child Abuse Counseling
• Sexual Assault Counseling
• General Counseling Services

The primary office for preventing and treating family maltreatment, including Domestic Violence and Child Abuse, for active duty members, guards, reservists, retirees and their families. Services include new parents support program, pregnancy classes, anger management, parenting class, marital therapy, outreach programs, and therapy for abuse cases, victim advocates, crisis counseling, safety planning, support, and referral resources.

• Crime Victim Support
• General Expectant/New Parent Assistance
• Military Family Service/Support Centers
• Child Abuse Counseling
• Spouse/Intimate Partner Abuse Counseling
• Anger Management

The Family to Family Network is a grassroots volunteer group composed of family members across Utah who have a relative with a disability. Local networks across Utah offer support, education, and resources to families of persons with disabilities. Funded by the Division of Services for People with Disabilities. Specializes in helping people on the waiting list for services.

• Specialized Information and Referral
• Health/Disability Related Support Groups

Leaders located across Utah- refer to website for local network information.

Utah's Safe Haven law allows birth parents to anonymously give up custody of their newborn child without facing any legal consequences, promotes information about the law, and empowers them with information about a safe alternative to abandonment.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Following all CDC and State guidelines, including requiring masks, but remain open for services. Visit specific hospital websites for guidelines.

• Safe Havens for Abandoned Newborns

Provides support to patients and families during extended stays at Primary Children's Hospital.

Services Include:

• Child Life Specialists
• Expressive Therapies
• Family Advisory Council
• Family Mentor Program
• Kid's Clubhouse
• Language Services
• Pet Therapy Volunteers
• Rainbow Kids Palliative Care
• Ronald McDonald Family Room
• School Services
• Social Work
• Spiritual Care
• Bereavement Program

Provides education and supportive services, including general, child abuse, and sexual assault counseling and works to strengthen the family unit and enhance family functioning. Parents who are stressed, need a break, have an emergency arise, or have no one else to help take care of their children can leave their children safely for up to 72 hours at the West Valley City location.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Child and parent must be in good health. Temperature and lice check will be done upon arrival. Call for availability and to schedule. Priority given to urgent respite need. Most counseling being done remotely (tele-health), with some in-person availability. Call, email, or visit website for information.

• Sexual Assault Counseling
• Crisis Nurseries/Child Care
• General Counseling Services
• Child Abuse Counseling

Provides a spectrum of individual and family-based counseling, student support groups, and parent education classes. Psychologists and social workers determine what services may be needed to meet a family's needs and are provided at no cost to families in the Canyons School District.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Canyons Family Center has re-opened and will be following the recommended guidelines that the schools have in place. Please call for additional information.

• Parenting Skills Classes
• Youth Violence Prevention
• Family Support Centers/Outreach
• Youth/Student Support Groups

Provides intensive in-home interventions designed to teach parents skills to change the unwanted behaviors of their children, and to improve family functioning. 

Utah Youth Village is Utah’s largest private provider of residential treatment for children who are wards of the state.

24/7 crisis nursery care and respite breaks at three locations in Salt Lake County, for a couple of hours to up to 72 hours each time. Parents who are stressed, need a break, have an emergency arise, or have no one else to help take care of their children can leave their children safely in our care. Please call one of our crisis nurseries to schedule an appointment.

Other locations: West Valley 801 967-4259, Midvale 801 255-6881
Fifteen locations in the Utah Association of Family Support Centers, not all offering the same services. Also in Ogden.

Provides outpatient, in-home therapy services for families and individuals (children, adolescents, and adults).

Issues Treated Include:

• Depression
• Bipolar
• ADHD/ADD
• Oppositional Defiance
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder
• Reactive Attachment Disorder
• Autism Spectrum
• Childhood Behavioral Issues
• Low self-esteem
• Lack of a supportive and positive peer group
• School failure
• Lack of motivation
• Poor problem solving skills
• Lack of effective communication
• Coping and self-management skills
• Parenting and marital issues

Provides services for families experiencing problems with their children and difficulties in their home.

Services Include:

• Families First: Therapeutic support and guidance to Utah youth and families facing challenging life circumstances
• Alpine Academy: Two therapeutic schools helping teens from around the United States thrive
• Treatment Foster Care: Providing safe family style environment to Utah’s foster children
• Smarter Parenting: Online resources and customized coaching to parents around the world
• Family Homes: Four Family Homes where youth are taught to live and thrive in a normal, healthy family environment
• Mentoring Program

See website or contact for additional provider names and specialties. All providers may not provide all services.

Jeffrey Bright, LCSW

Approaches Used:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Family Therapy Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Biofeedback

Kim Mann, LCSW

Approaches Used:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Family Therapy
Biofeedback

Siope Kinikini,CMHC

Approaches Used:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Family Therapy Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Annette Curtis, LCSW

Approaches Used:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Family Therapy
Trauma Focused CBT

Family Resource Facilitators (FRFs) are trained family members who develop working partnerships with the community mental health staff to represent the family voice at service delivery, administration and policy levels. FRFs provide referrals to local resources and programs; advocacy for culturally appropriate services; links to information and support groups; and family wraparound facilitation. They play a key role in developing a formalized, family-driven and child-centered public mental health system in Utah.

A partnership between Allies with Families, New Frontiers for Families and NAMI Utah, the Utah Family Coalition oversees and mentors services through local credentialed facilitators throughout Utah.
For within Salt Lake County contact Mary Gully 385 468-4548
Funded through grant monies for family advocacy which pass through the State.

Provides an website where parents can learn skills included in the Teaching Family Model. The Smarter Parenting website offers large amounts of parenting support resources, over 100 downloadable podcasts; a popular Youtube channel, customized online coaching sessions with trained clinicians and individualized behavioral plans.

Utah Youth Village is Utah’s largest private provider of residential treatment for children who are wards of the state.

The mission of the Family Support Center's LifeStart Village is to move single parents with children from dependency to self-sufficiency. A three year program, single parents and their children move from homelessness or near homelessness into safe, stable housing where they develop the necessary skills to create a stable, nurturing environment.

In the dorm-like Phase I and under the direction of a full time director, the parents learn to become self-sufficient. They receive Life Focus training, parent education, financial budgeting education, are assisted in completing their GED and acquiring and maintaining adequate employment.

Upon completion of Phase I, the parents graduate to a self-sufficient rental town home or cottage (Phase II) and may ultimately have the opportunity to become the owner of a CROWN (rent to own) twin home in Phase III.

Provides outpatient, in-home therapy services for families and individuals (children, adolescents, and adults).

Issues Treated Include:

• Depression
• Bipolar
• ADHD/ADD
• Oppositional Defiance
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder
• Reactive Attachment Disorder
• Autism Spectrum
• Childhood Behavioral Issues
• Low self-esteem
• Lack of a supportive and positive peer group
• School failure
• Lack of motivation
• Poor problem solving skills
• Lack of effective communication
• Coping and self-management skills
• Parenting and marital issues

Provides primary care and specialty services to military beneficiaries through three clinics. Primary care is offered to active duty personnel and their family members, retirees, and dependents of retirees. Clinics include the Family Health Clinic, the Warrior and Flight Medicine Clinic, and the Pediatric Clinic. Specialty services include women’s health, physical therapy, mental health, audiology, dental, and optometry. Ancillary services supporting the base community include Clinical Laboratory, Radiology, Pharmacy, Immunizations, Case Management, Disease Management, Bioenvironmental Engineering, Army Veterinary Services, Public Health, Health Promotions, and Family Advocacy.

COVID-19 UPDATE: All patients and visitors over the age of two are required to wear a face covering while inside the medical facility. Exceptions are made for individuals with intellectual disabilities and those experiencing difficulty in breathing. Offering video, telephonic, and in-person appointments.

• Community Clinics
• Veteran/Military Health Insurance
• Military Family Service/Support Centers

Emotional and informational support for families of children who have special needs, Parent to Parent-USA (P2P-USA) is a national nonprofit organization committed to assuring access and quality in Parent to Parent support across the country. This site highlights state's organizations that have parent to parent support as a core program and are committed to implementing evidence-based practices.

A national program dedicated to the interests of brothers and sisters of people with special health and developmental needs.

A Kindering Center program

Website serves as a central resource of information and products to the community of Parent Training Information (PTI) Centers and the Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs), so that they can focus their efforts on serving families of children with disabilities.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Center for Parent Information and Resources continues to offer services through their website 24/7.

• Planning/Coordinating/Advisory Groups

Onsite program: families may live at the National Home for up to 4 years where they will be provided with: housing, education, daycare, basic needs, recreation, and case management.

Remote program: Military and Veteran Family Helpline can be reached at 800-313-4200.

Support group for Fatty Oxidation Disorders. Raises funds for Educational and Networking Services and Programs. Medical information, including information about newborn screening, and support resources.

Mission of Graham's Foundation is to support, comfort, inform, and guide families who experience a premature birth.

Programs:

• NICU, transition home, and remembrance care package programs
• Trained preemie parent mentors available 24/7 via email, phone, and text
• MyPreemie, the market-leading app for parents of premature babies
• Online communities with tens of thousands engaged parents making new connections

Hand to Hold® helps families before, during, and after a NICU stay and infant loss by providing powerful resources for the whole family, and most importantly, one-on-one mentoring from someone who has been there.

Services:

• Peer Support
• Online Community
• Resources (hospital, online, podcast)

Online resource: A federal government web site, developed by the Educational Opportunities Directorate with support from Navy Lifelines, provides information for military families with special needs. It is designed to share information with military families on Department of Defense efforts and civilian community programs to support families with special needs within the military community.

Provides for the health care needs of the military and Veteran communities.

Services Include:

• Doctor locator
• Pharmacy locator
• TriCare service center locator for each state