FamilyMeans November Newsletter
Nov 18, 2025
This November, we want to express our deepest gratitude for the individual donors and funders who make our work possible! Your generosity helps caregivers find balance, teens find peace, families find financial stability, children find a safe place to grow, and much more. Thank you for making hope happen every day!
In This Issue:
- Save the Date for Our 2026 Better is Possible Fundraiser!
- Caregiving & Aging Shares Resources for National Family Caregivers Month
- The Latest from Youth Development
- Holiday Shopping Tips from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling
- FamilyMeans Therapists Present at the 2025 Minnesota School Behavioral Health Conference
- Get Involved!
We are excited to announce the date for our next FamilyMeans Better is Possible Fundraiser! This event includes cocktail hour, dinner, a short program, and both silent and live auctions to support those in need of our services! Tickets will be on sale in early 2026!
Interested in supporting our event? Click the button below to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, auction item donations, or monetary contributions.
Caregiving & Shares Resources for National Family Caregivers Month
November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize the dedication of those who care for others and highlight the support systems that make caregiving manageable. The Caregiver Action Network is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting family caregivers across the United States. FamilyMeans is highlighting their National Family Caregiver's Month Theme, "Plug into Care," which encourages caregivers to connect with trusted resources, supportive communities, and practical tools that can help lighten their load and strengthen their well-being.
At FamilyMeans, we understand that caregiving is both rewarding and challenging. This November, as part of our "Plug into Care" initiative, we are helping caregivers in our community access meaningful support by providing caregiver and older adult resources at these Washington County Libraries: Hardwood Creek Library (Forest Lake), Lake Elmo Library, Oakdale Library, Park Grove Library (Cottage Grove), R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury), Valley Library (Lakeland), Wildwood Library (Mahtomedi), Bayport Public Library, and Stillwater Public Library.
We’re working to make caregiver resources more accessible in public spaces, especially in libraries, which are often a trusted and well-used resource for older adults in our community. By placing helpful materials where people already gather, we hope to support caregivers in meaningful, everyday ways.
If you're interested in becoming a location where these resources can be shared, please reach out, we’d love to partner with you.
Stillwater Public Library
Lake Elmo Library
Wildwood Library (Mahtomedi)
Looking for ways to support a caregiver in your life?
This National Family Caregivers Month, our team has created special Caregiver Care Packages to show appreciation and encouragement to caregivers in your life! Each care package has been thoughtfully designed to remind caregivers that they are valued and supported in their journey.
Click the button below to explore what is inside, pricing, and how to order your care package today!
Caregiver Care Packages Information
The Latest from Youth Development
The start of the school year is a very busy time in our Youth Development programming: youth are back into their routines, balancing homework, extracurriculars, and time with friends, while continuing to grow at both our centers in Cimarron and Landfall. From field trips to skill building activities, we're helping youth navigate this busy season with confidence and connection with others (while having some fun, of course). During what could be stressful times for many of our youth, we are proud to be a steady presence in their lives. Keep reading to see what we have been up to!
Cimarron Teens, along with volunteers and staff members, recently visited Feed My Starving Children - Eagan and spent time packaging for those across the world who go hungry. During the time spent at the facility, the youth helped prep over 25,000 meals; that's enough to feed 72 kids DAILY for a year. Thank you to our youth for participating in this amazing volunteer opportunity!
Landfall Investigation Station Youth visited the Minnesota Zoo before the weather got too cold! From wolves to penguins to goats, the youth got to see wildlife from all over the globe! Experiences like this spark curiosity and learning, helping youth connect with nature, science, and conservation in meaningful ways.
Cimarron Kidspace recently visited Gibbs Farm in Falcon Heights, MN. Gibbs Farm is a historic site operated by the Ramsey County Historical Society that interprets mid-1800s pioneer and Dakota life. The youth engaged in hands-on programs with animals, gardens, seeds, crops, and much more!
At the Landfall Teen Center, our teens have been working closely with Program Coordinator, Carey, to explore their strengths, passions, and future possibilities. Through engaging activities and thoughtful guidance, they’re discovering what makes them unique and how they can grow into confident, capable young adults.
Holiday Shopping Tips from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC)
FamilyMeans Financial Solutions continues to see growing demand for debt and credit counseling services and our debt management program. Clients are coming to us with average starting debt balances of $33,000, that’s 26% higher than in 2024. Holiday spending often adds to this burden, so creating and sticking to a budget can help you start the new year on the right foot.
Budget and planning
- Create a budget: Determine an overall amount you can spend and stick to it throughout the season.
- Make a list: Plan your purchases and how much you can afford to spend on each person.
- Start saving early: Open a separate savings account for holiday expenses and contribute to it throughout the year.
- Shop off-season: Buy gifts during sales in the off-season to save money.
Smart shopping strategies
- Shop early: This allows you to find deals and gives you more time to spread out spending.
- Leverage rewards and deals: Use credit card rewards, check for cash-back offers, and look for free shipping promotions.
- Use comparison tools: Use websites and apps to compare prices and find the best deals.
- Avoid impulse buys: Avoid last-minute purchases to stay within your budget.
- Consider alternatives: Opt for DIY gifts, experiences, or gift exchanges to cut costs.
Tracking and safety
- Track spending: Keep a close eye on your spending to ensure you don't go over your budget.
- Use secure sites: Only shop on trusted websites and be cautious of gift card scams.
- Limit cash: Carry as little cash as possible and keep your wallet in a safe place.
- Be aware of surroundings: Stay alert to your surroundings, especially in crowded areas.
A good app for price tracking (especially for Amazon purchases) is CamelCamelCamel. This is a free Amazon price tracker that helps shoppers determine if a product's current price is a good deal by showing its price history. It provides charts that display historical price trends for millions of products on Amazon
FamilyMeans is proud to share that two of our highly skilled clinical therapists, Marta Wilson, MA, LMFT, and Maureen (Moe)Sanderson, MA, were featured presenters at the 2025 Minnesota School Behavioral Health Conference, held November 5–7 at Cragun’s Conference Center in Brainerd, MN. This annual event brings together educators, mental health professionals, and community leaders to share best practices for supporting student mental health and well-being. The conference is recognized as one of Minnesota’s premier gatherings for advancing school-based behavioral health initiatives.
Marta and Moe’s session, titled “GAME ON! Using Sports and Sports Metaphors to Connect with Your Clients,” drew 40 participants and explored creative strategies for building rapport with youth through the universal language of sports. Their presentation highlighted how sports metaphors can be integrated with evidence-based therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to foster resilience, motivation, and emotional regulation. These approaches not only engage clients but also help translate complex psychological concepts into relatable, actionable steps. By connecting therapy to familiar interests like sports, clinicians can create a safe and motivating environment for growth.
This year’s conference offered sessions covering a wide range of topics, from culturally responsive practices to strategies for reducing stigma and promoting positive school climates. The event underscored the importance of collaboration among schools, families, and mental health providers to ensure every student has access to the support they need.
FamilyMeans is honored to have our therapists contribute to this statewide conversation on student mental health. Their leadership reflects our commitment to innovation and excellence in behavioral health services. For more information about our School-Based Mental Health program or to connect with Marta or Moe, visit familymeans.org or call 651-439-4840. Together, we continue to champion mental wellness for youth and families in our community.
Join the FamilyMeans Team!
FamilyMeans is currently accepting applications for:
- Mental Health Clinical Director
- Financial Solutions Counselor - Stillwater
- Receptionist
- Youth Development & Caregiving & Aging Volunteers
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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