Families Care Inc
About Families Care Inc
Families Care supports families and young people in Grand Island and across Central and Northern Nebraska who are navigating behavioral or mental health challenges. The work is grounded in peer support, so families are hearing from staff with lived experience, not just paperwork and process. For donors, that means helping people get advocacy, education, resources, and a real person who can help them find their footing in child-serving systems.
What sets Families Care apart is how closely it ties lived experience to direct support. Its staff help families move through mental health, school IEP, child welfare, juvenile justice, and substance use systems with peer support, advocacy, and education that is rooted in real understanding.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Family Peer Support
Support for families parenting children ages 3 to 18 with emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges, with an advocate helping families develop strategies to meet their goals.
Parent Peer Support Program
Support for parents experiencing emotional, behavioral or mental health challenges, or parenting a child who struggles with behavioral health challenges.
Transitional Youth Advocate Program
Peer advocacy for young adults ages 16 to 26 with severe emotional, mental health, behavioral health diagnosis, or substance abuse, focused on futures planning, strength discovery, and goal setting.
Family Navigators
Support for families referred through the Nebraska Helpline, with an advocate contacting the family within 24 hours to help obtain resources and assess strengths, needs, and goals.
Family Peer Support Crisis Response
A three-month program for parents using the Crisis Response system with a child ages 0 to 21 who is in crisis due to behavioral or mental health challenges.
Child & Family Services support
Support for families with a child placed out of home by Child and Family Services and a permanency plan of reunification, including help at team meetings, in court, and one-on-one.
Parent Support Group
A weekly support group for parents.
Grade School Meet Up
A weekly meet up for children in grades K to 5.
Middle School Meet Up
A weekly group for youth ages 11 to 15.
Transitional Youth Group
A weekly group for young people ages 16 to 26.
Parent Wellness Cafe
A wellness-focused support offering for parents.
Young Adult Wellness Cafe
A wellness-focused support offering for young adults.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
Families CARE provides advocacy, resources, education and peer support to families and youth experiencing behavioral or mental health challenges.
Who they serve
Families and youth in Central and Northern Nebraska who are experiencing behavioral or mental health challenges and navigating child-serving systems.
Their impact
- Provided advocacy, resources, and education for 200+ families with children who have behavioral and/or mental disabilities.
Our story
Families Care has provided advocacy, resources, education, and peer support to families and youth since 2000. It grew around helping families experiencing behavioral or mental health challenges navigate child-serving systems and connect with practical support.
Need help?
How someone in need can access Families Care Inc’s services.
Families can complete the referral form to request support. For Family Navigator referrals made through the Nebraska Helpline, a staff member contacts the family within 24 hours.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
"Peer Support was a lifeline for me during some of the most difficult moments of my son's mental health journey. I often felt isolated and overwhelmed during that time, so engaging in one-on-one peer support provided a non-judgmental, compassionate space where I felt truly understood." - Parent Participant, Kearney NE
Events
Parent Support Group
weeklyWeekly parent support group, held Monday evenings.
Grade School Meet Up
weeklyWeekly meet up for children in grades K to 5.
Middle School Meet Up
weeklyWeekly group for youth ages 11 to 15.
Transitional Youth Group
weeklyWeekly group for young people ages 16 to 26.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
How does a family start getting support?
Families can fill out the referral form, and someone from the office will reach out. If the referral comes through the Nebraska Helpline, the family is contacted within 24 hours.
Who can Family Peer Support serve?
Family Peer Support serves families parenting children ages 3 to 18 who are experiencing emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges.
What does the Transitional Youth Advocate Program do?
It supports young adults ages 16 to 26 with severe emotional, mental health, behavioral health diagnosis, or substance abuse, with futures planning, strength discovery, and goal setting.
What is Family Peer Support Crisis Response?
It is a three-month program for parents using the Crisis Response system with a child ages 0 to 21 who is in crisis because of behavioral or mental health challenges.
Similar nonprofits
Other family services nonprofits in NE.