August Newsletter
Aug 20, 2025
In This Issue:
- Join us for FamilyMeans Next Gen Council's Townie Tuesday
- Caregiving & Aging Article Feature & Class Offerings
- Cimarron Teens Participate in "National Night Out" to Raise Money for Camping Trip
- A Case Study: The FamilyMeans Debt Management Program
- Back to School Anxiety Support
- Get Involved!
You're Invited!
Join us for FamilyMeans Next Gen Council's Townie Tuesday
Grab a pint and support families in the St. Croix Valley!
$1 of every Lift Bridge pint (including rootbeer) supports FamilyMeans programming. All donations will be matched dollar to dollar by Andersen Windows & Doors!
Fun for all ages! There will be yard games, raffle prizes, and great company. We will be giving away FREE raffle tickets to anyone who signs up for our agency newsletter OR likes our social media at the event! Trust me, you're going to want to win these prizes!
The Smug Pug Food Truck will be there serving up delicious meals for all to enjoy. We hope to see you there!
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
4:00pm-8:00pm
Lift Bridge Brewing
1900 Tower Drive W, Stillwater, MN 55082
Caregiving & Aging Article Feature & Class Offerings
Did you see the feature in St. Croix Valley Magazine titled "Community Resources for Family and Friend Caregivers"? This article highlights Betsy and Dick Ellis, a local family that finds support through our Caregiving & Aging program. Click HERE to read the complete article.
Navigating the challenges of caregiving and memory loss can feel overwhelming, but FamilyMeans is offering two powerful programs this fall designed to provide both guidance and support. Powerful Tools for Caregivers and Shaping Your Tomorrow: Dementia & MCI offer participants a chance to engage in meaningful learning and community support. These programs reflect FamilyMeans’ commitment to strengthening families and individuals through every stage of life’s journey.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers: This evidence-based educational program aims to help caregivers take care of themselves while caring for another. This class will benefit all caregivers, whether you are caring for a parent, a spouse, a friend, someone who lives at home, in a nursing home, or across the country. Join us as we discuss how to take care ourselves as caregivers, reduce personal stress, communicate feelings and concerns, and learn from our emotions.
September 8 - October 13, 2025
Mondays, 6-week series
1pm-3pm @ FamilyMeans
View Flyer
Shaping Your Tomorrow: Dementia & MCI: Shaping Your Tomorrow is designed to meet the needs of both the person living with memory loss and a family member or friend. Each week introduces a specific topic for education, planning for the future, and learning from others on a similar journey. Rich discussions with the full group are followed by separate peer conversations: one for people with memory loss and one for their partners. Join us as we take a deep-dive into the understanding of memory loss.
September 18 - November 20, 2025
Thursdays, 10-week series
10am-12pm @ FamilyMeans
View Flyer
For more information on Caregiving & Aging offerings, please view our Class/Groups/Events page on our website or call 651-439-4840 for more information.
Meet our new team member, Bre!
We are excited to announce that Bre Berwyn has joined the Caregiving & Aging staff as our new Social Worker! Bre graduated from The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN for both her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Social Work. Bre joins Lynn Amon in providing support to caregivers in our community and beyond, learning about their goals, finding helpful resources, helping them cope with daily challenges, and plan ahead. Welcome, Bre!
Cimarron Teens Participate in "National Night Out" to Raise Money for Camping Trip
National Night Out is a nationwide initiative held annually on the first Tuesday in August, designed to strengthen the bond between communities and local law enforcement. The event encourages neighbors to come together, stand united against crime, and foster a stronger sense of community through meaningful connection and collaboration. It’s an opportunity for residents to meet local police officers, learn about crime prevention, and reinforce the social ties that help keep neighborhoods safe and resilient.
On August 5th, the city of Lake Elmo joined the celebration with a vibrant gathering at Lion’s Park, featuring over 50 local agencies and businesses. The evening was filled with fun, games, music, and more. Teens from our Cimarron Youth Development Center proudly represented FamilyMeans at our booth, hosting a Focaccia Fundraiser. Last year, proceeds from their Sourdough Bread Fundraiser helped fund a memorable end-of-summer trip to Valleyfair. This year, they’re raising money for an exciting upcoming camping adventure. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who visited our table or purchased some of their delicious creations!
For over a year, the teens have been developing their cooking and entrepreneurial skills under the guidance of volunteer Julie Anderson, who has generously shared her passion and expertise at the Center. From pastries to pizza, the youth have been exploring new recipes and refining their culinary talents, one tasty dish at a time.
Want to help support the teens' next adventure? Make a donation in support of Youth Development!
A Case Study: The FamilyMeans Debt Management Program
The FamilyMeans Financial Solutions program has seen rapid growth in the past 12 months. A whopping 32% increase in the number of clients seeking support – that’s over 5,800 individuals and rising. Let’s take a look at a typical client’s journey.
The Jones family consists of two parents, John and Kim, and their two children Emily and Parker. Kim was the breadwinner of the family but was laid off. As she searched for work, the family relied on credit cards to pay for groceries and utilities. Thankfully, Kim was able to return to work this summer, but now, with multiple credit cards, each with high interest rates, they are barely making ends meet. Not to mention, the minimum payments they are making barely touch the principal!
The stress is constant, and the path forward feels uncertain. They decide to reach out to the FamilyMeans Financial Solutions team. They have a free 90-minute credit and debt counseling session where a counselor reviews their budget, listens to their goals, and helps them to establish a plan forward. They learn that their total unsecured credit card debt is $24,452. This is the average for our DMP clients. If they continue to make minimum payments it will take over 25 years to pay off this debt.
The counselor suggests a better option, the Debt Management Program (DMP), a simple program that helps lower interest rates, simplify payments, and pay off debts quicker. By working with FamilyMeans their monthly payment was reduced by nearly $150 per month and they will pay off the debt in 5 years not 25. Below is a screen shot of their “debt payoff calculation”.
Thanks to programs like ours, the Jones family is saving money and cutting down the time it would take to pay their debt off in full. This means less stress, more stability, and a renewed sense of hope. Our staff see the changes that being on a DMP have mentally, emotionally, and physically. More and more families are reaching out for support, and this life-changing program is making a real difference for individuals right here in our community.
Want to see how much you could save? Try our Debt Payoff Calculator and take the first step toward financial freedom.
As we prepare for the upcoming school year, your child may begin to feel anxious and overwhelmed. Parents can play a vital role in easing this anxiety and helping to make the back-to-school transition an easy one. Here are 5 tips from FamilyMeans Counseling & Therapy on how to support your child this fall.
1. Let Them Talk
Make yourself available for your child. Let them know that they can talk to you about how they are feeling, without judgement.
2. Don’t Get Frustrated
You might feel like the anxiety your child has is irrational, but to them, it is not. It is important not to brush off or ignore those feelings. Stay open, listen, and do not show the frustration.
3. Spend Quality Time
Spend time together doing something fun. This will cheer them up and make them feel like they are not alone in their struggles.
4. Teach Ways to Cope
Encourage your child to recognize when they are feeling anxious. Then teach them ways to calm that anxiety. Some ways to do this are; take deep breaths, focus on something they can control, or find someone they trust to discuss feelings.
5. Praise Accomplishments
Recognize when your child overcomes an anxiety-inducing situation. Be proud of them, and show it
Need Support?
FamilyMeans School-Based Therapists are located in 16 schools across 3 districts in the greater Stillwater Area. Visit our website or call 651-439-4840 to learn more and find ways that we can help your family through life's challenges.
View our School-Based Mental Health video to learn more about our impact in local schools!
Video Link
We Need Your Help!
Our Counseling & Therapy team is seeking your support in expanding our therapy "tool box." These additional items will be used across both our clinic and School-Based Mental Health programs, offering creative and effective ways to address challenges such as anger, anxiety, and coping strategies—among many others our therapists encounter daily. Your contributions will make a meaningful difference, and we truly appreciate your support in advance!
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Join the FamilyMeans Team!
FamilyMeans is currently accepting applications for:
FamilyMeans offers competitive pay and benefits such as health and dental insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, and paid time off to eligible employees.
Our mission is to strengthen communities by helping individuals and families through challenges in all life stages. FamilyMeans envisions vibrant and resilient communities where everyone lives to their fullest potential. Our work is life's challenges. A career with Familymeans provides an opportunity to enrich your professional life while working alongside colleagues who share a vision of making changes in people's lives through high quality services. We strive to provide the highest quality of care for our clients as well as work-life experience for our employees.
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FamilyMeans Board of Directors
2025
Bob Clark, Board Chair | Matthew Salisbury, Vice Chair | Peter Matzek, Treasurer
Jenny Terwedo, Secretary | Lindsay Belland | Carmen Colombo | Heidi Hubbard, MD
Marissa Kropp | Shawn Lohmann | Rajean Moone, PhD | Kerrie Oetter | Joe Paiement
Clark Schroeder | Luke Schulz | James Kroening, President & CEO
FamilyMeans
1875 Northwestern Ave S | Stillwater, Minnesota 55082
651 439 4840
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