MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation awarded Christian Family Solutions (CFS) a $5,000 grant to help fill the gap in funding for children being treated for mental health conditions in its STRONG Child & Adolescent Day Treatment Program. CFS was among the grant recipients invited to network with foundation supporters at the 2024 Health and Harmony Event on April 5 in Madison, Wis. Through the STRONG program, CFS offers day treatment for children ages 4-17 who are suffering from behavioral or mental health conditions. Day treatment includes trauma-informed and culturall ..read more

Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) are a vital step towards healing for individuals with acute symptoms. If you, a loved one, or a patient/client is struggling to function on a daily basis or is not improving with outpatient therapy, an IOP may provide the right dose of therapy. The goal is to stop destructive thoughts, heal the hurt, and build behavioral skills before they become more serious or require hospitalization or inpatient care. IOPs at Christian Family Solutions are anchored in evidence-based approaches such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to equip individuals with the neces ..read more

by Sarah Reik, LPC, CFS Member Assistance Program Manager When someone we care about is battling depression, it can be difficult to know how to help. The first step often involves initiating a conversation, but finding the right words and actions can feel daunting. However, offering support and love can make a world of difference to someone navigating the darkness of depression. Start the Conversation Bringing up the topic of depression with a loved one requires sensitivity and empathy. Here are some gentle ways to initiate the conversation: Express Concern: Begin by expressing your worry in ..read more

In the last two decades, and certainly since the pandemic, more people are paying attention to mental health and willing to try counseling. In that time, the number of U.S. adults who sought mental health care in some form has increased 65%, from 27 million in 2002 to 42 million in 20211.  Clearly, people are searching for answers. Is the counseling profession providing solutions? And how does Christian counseling fit into the outcomes equation? A May 2023 article in The New York Times Magazine summarized the latest research on the effectiveness of “talk therapy.” One prominent researcher ..read more

Group therapy can be an intimidating thought. Sometimes, we are just better together.   For the person who struggles with anxiety, it might take every ounce of courage to walk into a group therapy room. Those battling depression may simply not have the energy to face a group of people on any given day. Cassie Lauters, program manager for the adult intensive outpatient program (IOP) at CFS, has helped adults work through these feelings throughout her five years in the program in Appleton. “It’s not always easy to join a group, but I have seen the progress our clients make once they fi ..read more

By Jane Mose, MA, CFS Family Peer Specialist Some parents actually dread the Christmas season because their child’s behavior is so challenging that it drains all the joy. This may sound odd to all the parents who find great joy in watching their children engage in the excitement of Christmas. But it’s real. Some children are unable to regulate their behavior leading up to or during a special day, resulting in any number of angry verbal and physical outbursts or extra meltdowns. They might defy and reject their parents more around a holiday. Children from all backgrounds, including being raised ..read more

By Jane Mose, MA, CFS Family Peer Specialist Imagine this scenario: It’s Christmas Eve. You’re looking forward to getting the whole family dressed up to go to a beautiful, candle-lit worship service and sing your favorite Christmas hymns. You’re also looking forward to tomorrow morning, eager to see the joy on your children’s faces as they open the special gifts you’ve chosen for them. After that comes a special Christmas carol worship service, followed by a wonderful, homemade Christmas dinner at Grandma’s and a chance for your children to play with their cousins, whom they don’t see often. T ..read more

By Julie Straseske, LPC This life offers amazing moments of pure joy. Your eyes well up with tears as your mother excitedly opens the gift you spent weeks making for her. Your heart overflows as you hear your children’s giggles from the other room. You eagerly anticipate members of your extended family descending upon your house for cherished time together. Family is an undeniable blessing. Yet we live in a broken and sinful world where otherwise loving relationships become strained. A grandparent makes unwelcome comments about your child’s weight. Your father-in-law repeatedly visits your hom ..read more

Healing & Helping is a bi-annual publication of Christian Family Solutions, designed to share the impact of our work and provide ministry updates to readers across the country. Healing and Helping Winter 2023 The post 2023 Winter Healing and Helping appeared first on Christian Family Solutions ..read more

HARTFORD, Wis. — The Gardens of Hartford Assisted Living will be under new management as of January 1, 2024. The Gardens is a 48-unit residential care apartment complex located at 112 Peace Lutheran Parkway in the city of Hartford. Christian Family Solutions (CFS) sold The Gardens facility to Spero Senior Ministries in 2021 while CFS retained management of The Gardens operations. Now, Spero will align all of its senior living properties under the same management team, Koru Health. Koru currently operates 10 senior living communities throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota. According to Spero Senior ..read more