Meet Our Members: Kids & Families Together

We recently welcomed new Chamber member Kids & Families Together, a local nonprofit that has served the Ventura County community for 20 years through education, support, and counseling for kinship, adoption, foster, and birth families. Caitlin Barringer, Development Manager, shares more about their life-changing mission. 

What products or services do you provide?
We provide counseling, education and support for families that have come together through foster care, kinship (primarily grandparents raising grandchildren), and adoption. In addition, Kids & Families Together supports families that are in a reunification process when children have been removed by child welfare.

How and when did the organization get started?
Twenty years ago, Kids & Families Together founders, Faith Friedlander and a family friend, along with their husbands, had a vision of creating an organization that would support children and families as they traverse through the multiple stages of the child welfare system.          

What is the organization's mission or motto?
Kids & Families Together’s mission is to strengthen relationships and provide safe, supportive help and education that keeps families emotionally connected to one another.   

What’s one thing the organization is known for?
We offer a safe and supportive resource, education and counseling center. We are committed to respecting each individual and family who request our services and to providing the most comprehensive, trauma informed education and counseling to promote healthy families.       

Why are Oxnard and Ventura County attractive markets for your organization?
Since Kids & Families Together works in collaboration with the Ventura County child welfare agency, most of our programs and services take place in Ventura County. Through data we know that there are many children both removed and placed in greater Oxnard.  In addition, we know that there are many relatives raising relative children.

Are there any new events you can tell us about?
Stay tuned: This is our 20th Anniversary and we will be celebrating!         

How can the Chamber / members / Oxnard community help?
The Oxnard community and Chamber members can help by learning about our organization, partnering with us, volunteering, and donating both monetary and tangible goods. There are so many ways and opportunities for collaboration to make our community an even greater place!       
 
Learn more at www.kidsandfamilies.org

Follow them on social:        
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kidsandfamilies
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kandft
Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCAWi1CwaDG165TQP_nPxgrw