Families Plus

Background Statement

The Families Plus concept was developed in 1998 by Dr. Brenda Holland, a practicing clinical psychologist in Delta County. Dr. Holland engaged community professionals and concerned citizens to address a need for underserved youth in Delta County, living in unhealthy and often chaotic environments. From this group, a new type of community-based program for children was initiated. The family-as-mentor idea had not been implemented prior. Each mentoring family would make a commitment to a child or children with the aid of a mental health care professional and with parent partners. Parent partners cater to the needs of family members surrounding these children providing insight to resources and opportunities available within our community and to lend a helping hand when needed.

This new family mentoring idea caught on quickly. Within five years, almost thirty-five children in Delta County had been matched with their long-term mentoring families and lives of many have been impacted in the process.

Currently, Families Plus lends a helping hand to over a hundred children in the Delta County community. Providing resources to health care providers, behavioral, mental health, and substance use training and by offering skill-building activities and programs to children to explore possible areas of interests, Families Plus strives to keep the minds of youth actively engaged and constantly exploring endless opportunities.