Strengthening Families Together
Strengthening Families Together is a proactive parent and family support program that empowers families before challenges escalate. While we currently partner with Hennepin County to support families involved in Children and Family Services (CFS), our program focus is on prevention—helping parents build skills, resilience, and confidence to support their family’s well-being.
Many families, especially those who are low-income, single-parent, or from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, face significant barriers to mental health care and parenting support. Our program bridges that gap by providing accessible, individualized services for parents, legal guardians, and expecting or adoptive families, regardless of socio-economic status or level of functioning.
This initiative is designed to reach families who may not qualify for traditional services but would greatly benefit from early intervention. By reducing barriers and supporting families early, we aim to prevent child protection involvement and help create safe, stable, and nurturing home environments.
An extension of our parent education program launched in 2014, this expanded effort strengthens protective factors such as parental resilience, social connections, knowledge of parenting and child development, healthy attachment, and support during times of stress. These strategies reduce the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and contribute to long-term family stability.
Parent educators meet weekly with families to provide tailored support focused on routines, positive discipline, and effective parent-child communication. We also assist families navigating complex challenges such as mental illness, substance use, neglect, and domestic violence. Our educators help parents understand how these experiences affect their children’s development and work with them to build a strong foundation for lasting resilience and healthy growth.
For more information, please contact Jessica Preiner, Managing Director of Mental Health, at 952-737-2980 or [email protected].