Benton County Oregon Family Support Network

Information, news, and updates from Oregon Family Support Network in Benton County Family Support and Education Groups: At our groups you can: **Connect with other parents, family members, and youth in a confidential and supportive setting. **Get helpful information and exchange ideas with others. **Share your experiences, successes, and frustrations with others who understand your journey. All meetings are held at Grace Lutheran Church on the corner of Kings and Harrison in Corvallis. Dinner and supervised children’s activities are provided at no cost. Newcomers are always welcome! We meet on the 2nd and last Tuesday of the month from 5:30-7:30 pm. No meetings in July or August. Each meeting includes a family dinner and an educational speaker focusing on topics related to children’s mental health, behavioral challenges, autism, and developmental diversity. Speakers are followed by support group time for those who wish to stay and participate. **************************************** Teen Social Group For middle and high school students who experience autism. Friends and siblings are also welcome. Meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, 6-7:30 pm. Pizza, soda, and fun activities! For more information or to RSVP for groups, please contact Brandy Hemsley at brandyh@ofsn.net or 541-600-6395 Oregon Family Support Network, founded in 1991, a 501(c)3 non-profit, began as a grass roots community organization providing support groups and education to families with a strong advocacy component. Our purpose has remained unchanged: To connect, empower and educate families and their communities to assure improved outcomes for children and youth experiencing significant behavioral health challenges. To fulfill a significant role in facilitating family/youth voice in local and state policy making. OFSN is the longest standing organization in Oregon with the ability to provide advocacy, support, education and direct peer delivered services. Children, youth and families we work with have complex challenges resulting from mental or behavioral health disorders. Our families and youth also struggle with many obstacles and barriers, including; poverty, domestic violence, homelessness, disconnection from family, untreated mental health and addictions, as well as profound traumatic experiences. Our offering is best described as peer delivered service. Families and youth come to OFSN for education and training, community supports, advocacy and/or for family partner services through behavioral health systems. Actual services within a County or region can be different. This is because OFSN contracts individually with counties and behavioral health systems, as well as receiving grant monies. OFSN staff members are almost all parents (biological, adoptive and foster) or caregivers who have raised a child or several children who have mental health, behavioral and other significant health challenges.