Through your organization’s Member Assistance Program, counseling services are available to help address challenges in life such as depression, anxiety, marital discord, traumatic reactions, or other problem areas. We assist individuals, couples, or families. When using a secure video connection, we typically meet with people age 12 and over.

 

The type of counseling provided through the Member Assistance Program is short term—typically 6-8 meetings. Professional counselors focus on providing a thorough assessment of the problem area, followed by short-term problem resolution. If longer-term care is needed, you will be referred to a resource in your community or a resource that fits your need for problem resolution.

 

Testimonials

It [the counseling service] helped to bring my wife and me closer. It was an amazing and life-changing experience.

 

I felt the video counseling was a wonderful alternative for those of us who live in rural areas without access to Christian counselors.

 

Dr. Hayes was exceptional on every level. He helped me to deal with some very specific and difficult issues in a way that made me comfortable with the resolutions and that gave me a great deal of peace. His incredible expertise and his off-the-charts bedside manner were exactly what I needed at a very difficult time in my life. I have already recommended him to others who I feel would benefit from his help and will continue to do so.

 

We value the service of Christian Family Solutions. It’s been a wonderful blessing for those involved who are receiving the benefit of the professional services of your staff. Finding competent Christian counselors who reflect our view of the Scriptures has always been a challenge for our congregations and shepherds. We thank you for your aid in assisting this very helpful and worthy effort to reach those who are in need of your services! 

 

For the MAP Support Center, please call 800.438.1772 or e-mail the program coordinator at assistance@wlcfs.org.

The amount of time pastors spend on marital counseling always seems to be increasing. Premarital counseling received from the pastor is a common practice in most congregations. A wide variety of resources are used by pastors to help couples prepare for their marriage (not just the wedding day).

 

Now pastors can further assist couples by providing access to premarital counseling through their Member Assistance Program. The premarital counseling service uses the PREPARE/ENRICH™ online couple assessment. This is one of the most widely used programs for premarital counseling and identifies a couple’s strength and growth areas. Our counselors who have been trained as PREPARE/ENRICH facilitators will meet with the couples to review their results.

 

Here’s how it works:

1. The pastor refers the couple to their Member Assistance Program and provides the couple with their online intake link (only one of them will need to complete the intake).
2. The couple is scheduled with the trained PREPARE/ENRICH facilitator for an initial appointment, which is held in person if the couple is located near a Christian Family Solutions clinic location, or via a secure video connection from a home or church.
3. Meeting 1—The couple meets with the counselor and provides a history of their relationship with the counselor. The counselor discusses what they feel are strengths and potential areas of challenge in their relationship. Finally, the couple is given access to the online PREPARE/ENRICH assessment to complete prior to the next meeting.
4. Meeting 2—The counselor reviews the comprehensive PREPARE/ENRICH report that outlines results on relationship and personality scales (communication, spiritual beliefs, conflict resolution, roles, sexuality, finances, and more).
5. Meeting 3—The counselor provides recommendations to the couple on ways they can improve their relationship based on the results of the premarital process. Once the meetings have been completed, the counselor provides the PREPARE/ENRICH report and recommendations to the pastor. The pastor can then follow up with the couple to help them improve on relationship areas that need to be addressed, or the pastor can allow the counselor to provide some additional sessions with the couple and provide the couple with specific strategies and skill-building techniques to make improvements.

For the MAP Support Center, please call 800.438.1772 or e-mail the program coordinator at assistance@wlcfs.org.

When there is an economic downturn, many organizations request career counseling services. Organizations are significantly impacted when members lose employment, and they’d like to provide practical assistance to those in need.

 

Career counseling services are available to the members of MAP organizations. The career services will be limited to three sessions and focus on helping the member establish a plan to move forward and find new employment. Information on resumé writing, networking, general job search approaches, and interviewing will be shared. The career counseling service will provide an initial framework for moving forward and can be provided by phone, e-mail, and video.

 

For the MAP Support Center, please call 800.438.1772 or e-mail the program coordinator at assistance@wlcfs.org.

Substance abuse counseling is available for members who struggle with drugs or alcohol and are dealing with the negative consequences of their addiction. Our substance abuse counselors can help assess a member’s level of abuse or addiction and help determine the best treatment options to achieve sobriety.

 

Depending on the severity of the problem, short-term counseling through the Member Assistance Program can be helpful. However, if the counselor identifies dependency, a plan will be developed that may include a referral to a higher level of care. Referrals may include local treatment centers, support groups, or detox centers.

 

Through the Member Assistance Program, the counselors can assess the problem area and provide short-term counseling, and also follow up to make sure recommendations are being followed. Follow-up contact is essential to help people maintain sobriety.

 

For the MAP Support Center, please call 800.438.1772 or e-mail the program coordinator at assistance@wlcfs.org.

As pastors provide pastoral counseling to members/students, they often come across situations where there appears to be little progress being made and would like a second opinion on the member’s needs. Pastors can refer members to MAP for a psychological needs assessment.

 

The member assessment service can be completed in one or two sessions. The counselor will meet with the member, assess their psychological needs, and make appropriate recommendations for the most appropriate course of treatment. The recommendations will be shared with both the member and pastor. This service is particularly beneficial for members who struggle with a substance abuse problem.

 

Call 800.438.1772 to make the referral and then have the member complete an online intake.

 

For the MAP Support Center, please call 800.438.1772 or e-mail the program coordinator at assistance@wlcfs.org.

Church, school, or organization staff often have the greatest opportunity to recognize individual, marital, or family problems experienced by their members.

 

Consultation services are available to staff when they wish to discuss specific concerns being observed or make a referral for services. Pastoral counselors can also use our consultation services when they wish to discuss specific member counseling situations and receive feedback from a professional counselor on approaches and helpful resources.

 

For the MAP Support Center, please call 800.438.1772 or e-mail the program coordinator at assistance@wlcfs.org.

MAP organizations can refer members to one of three online support groups. These synchronous (real-time) online video support groups are led by an experienced support group leader and will occur weekly, biweekly, or monthly (depending on the group consensus) for a total of six, 90-minute meetings. Groups will begin when at least five members have been referred.

 

Members referred by their organization can participate at no cost through their Member Assistance Program, or they can pay a discounted fee by contacting the support group coordinator at 800.438.1772. Group participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. To find out how to enroll your organization, please call 800.438.1772 or e-mail the program coordinator at assistance@wlcfs.org.

 

Available groups:

Parents Grieving the Loss of an Infant Child
The loss of a child shortly after birth can be one of the most significant grieving experiences faced by parents. After this loss, parents may experience all kinds of emotions, such as shock, anger, and even guilt. Parents sometimes wonder if their sadness will ever let up. These feelings are a normal reaction to loss, and everyone copes with grief differently. Social support is one of the most helpful components of healing. Support from others who have experienced a similar loss can also be very helpful. Grief support groups can usually be found without much effort through a hospital, funeral home, or community center. It can be more difficult to find a group that focuses on grieving the loss of an infant child, and one that integrates faith in the process of support. This group is intended for parents who wish to receive Christian support from one another.

 

Caregivers Caring for Aging or Disabled Adults
Caregivers, or those who devote themselves to the care of aging or disabled family members, face a great deal of demands. These demands can feel overwhelming. The stress of caregiving can progress to burnout and potentially damage one’s physical or mental health. It is essential that caregivers receive support. This group offers a safe place to discuss the stresses, challenges, and rewards of providing care for a loved one. This group is intended for those who are providing care for aging or disabled adult family members with disorders such as Alzheimer’s, stroke, brain injury, or other chronic debilitating health conditions.

 

Parents Caring for a Severely Disabled Child
When parents receive a diagnosis that their child is disabled, they begin the process of adapting to many unanticipated challenges and long-term strains to their family. Parents or other care providers of a child with significant physical and/or mental disabilities and delays can find support from others who are facing a similar situation. This support group is intended for Christian parents of children who are severely disabled. Parents can find support for different disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy Developmental Delays, mentally impaired, Spina Bifida, seizures, brain injured, Scoliosis, CMV, Microcephaly, or rare genetic disorders.

 

Testimonial from participant in our pilot online group
It was a great joy to hear from others who were going through the grieving process because we found comfort in the encouragement we received from each other and through God’s Word. After we lost our child, we didn’t really find anything locally that we felt comfortable with. This gave us the opportunity to share our loss with fellow Christians who share the same perspective that Jesus is the resurrection and the life! Thank you, Christian Family Solutions, for this Christian community of caring and support!

 

For the MAP Support Center, please call 800.438.1772 or e-mail the program coordinator at assistance@wlcfs.org.

One of the biggest issues today is addiction to alcohol or drugs. For so many people, an important component of recovery can be support groups, in which members draw strength from sharing their struggles with others who face similar challenges.

 

Many congregations would like to start a recovery support group, but lack a group facilitator. Using the support group facilitation service through the Member Assistance Program, our substance abuse counselors can lead the group via a secure video connection. The facilitator can lead the group for eight 1-hour meetings and not only provide the initial structure for the group, but also train them to continue the group on their own.

 

One pastor of a congregation noted, “Our congregation knew a support group would meet a need, but didn’t know anything about how to start or run one. Christian Family Solutions helped us with advertising and start-up. The counselor used web-based video conferencing to meet with our group for eight weeks. He led the first few sessions, then observed and offered suggestions for the final sessions. Now we have several participants who know how to run a meeting on their own. The counselor is only a phone call away if we ever have issues or need advice.”

 

The cost for the group facilitation service is the standard hourly fee for congregations. If you feel your church could benefit from a video support group led by a Christian Family Solutions counselor, please call 800.438.1772 to schedule your meetings.

 

For the MAP Support Center, please call 800.438.1772 or e-mail the program coordinator at assistance@wlcfs.org.

In the event of a crisis situation or major event that impacts the organization or occurs at the organization (i.e., fire or tornado, loss of life), participating organizations can activate the crisis response service. MAP counselors are able to provide individual crisis counseling and provide support and consultation to the organization during or immediately following a traumatic event. Crisis counseling can be available to members by video at the organization.

 

Some crisis events may warrant onsite crisis response. MAP counselors are available to respond on-site in certain areas. If an onsite response is needed outside of those areas, MAP counselors will offer referral options in the local area.

 

For the MAP Support Center, please call 800.438.1772 or e-mail the program coordinator at assistance@wlcfs.org.

Presentations for Organizational Leaders

Counselors in the Member Assistance Program have prepared short, practical educational presentations for busy called workers that can be delivered by live video conferencing. At your next faculty meeting, circuit pastor gathering, conference, or other event, consider inviting one of our counselors by video to make a short (30-minute) presentation. The presentations allow for questions and discussion. Cost for member organizations is $200 per hour.

Presentations for Members

A wide variety of educational presentations are available for groups within organizations such as a parent group, senior group, or Bible class. Presentations can be delivered in person within our clinic service areas, or via live video anywhere.

 

To schedule a presentation, e-mail presentations@wlcfs.org or call 888.685.9522. For a full list of presentations, please click here.

 

For the MAP Support Center, please call 800.438.1772 or e-mail the program coordinator at assistance@wlcfs.org.

The Student Needs Assessment is a process available for high schools and colleges to evaluate and understand current student needs. During the high school and college years, many students may encounter challenges that impact their academics or future career path. Those challenges can include family stressors, mental health problems, drug and alcohol abuse/experimentation, relationship difficulties, and concerns with solidifying their faith.

 

A Student Needs Assessment can help high schools and colleges evaluate themselves so they offer the right services and resources to meet the needs of their students.

 

Through the assessment, student needs are identified using a self-report survey of 54 common problems experienced by students. The areas assessed include the following:

• Emotional concerns
• Academic struggles
• Family difficulties
• Vocational doubts
• Health concerns
• Spiritual doubt/confusion

The survey measures students’ awareness of counseling services already offered, their willingness to seek out those services, and the types of services that they would prefer to have on campus.

 

The assessment results allow schools to have a better understanding about the services currently offered and the environment on campus. Schools are then better equipped to make decisions that may involve the following:

• Expansion/modification of current counseling programs
• Creation of new programs
• Development of new student outreach techniques
• Development of more counseling techniques for diverse populations
• Identification of areas in which additional training for counseling staff is needed

Process

The assessment begins with a planning meeting with a research staff member from Christian Family Solutions. In this initial meeting, the staff member will meet with school administration and counseling staff to understand any immediate concerns or trends as well as set a plan for completing the assessment process.

 

Data Collection

The self-report survey can be administered to the students as a group using paper/pencil, or the survey can be administered electronically and sent to a student’s e-mail account.

 

Data Analysis

Student responses will be categorized by subgroups according to demographic information such as age, sex, year in school, ethnic/racial background. These demographic responses will serve as the independent variable. A factor analysis of the data will be done to analyze the results.

 

Report

Results and recommendations will be given back to the school administration through a written report. The time from data collection to having a report in hand is typically one week.

 

Cost

The cost of the program will vary by size of school and type of process. Some schools may decide to have a researcher come on-site for a week and complete the process. Schools using an electronic data collection method will save costs by not having researcher(s) on-site. Initial planning meetings and/or feedback meetings can also be done through live video conferencing to save on travel costs and research time. Upon request, schools participating in the Member Assistance Program can also qualify for substantial discounts on the service.

 

For the MAP Support Center, please call 800.438.1772 or e-mail the program coordinator at assistance@wlcfs.org.

Parents and school leaders want to provide the best resources they can to help kids recognize potential emotional challenges and get the help they need so they can succeed in school.

 

Christian Family Solutions partners with grade schools, middle schools, and high schools to provide a voluntary and confidential emotional screening service for students in grades 3-12. If your school is looking for a way to proactively address the challenges of childhood and adolescence, please take a moment to consider this screening program.

 

Why is this stuff important?

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all youth receive an annual emotional health screening
• 20% of teens struggle with emotional health concerns
• 10-20% of children struggle with emotional or behavioral health concerns
• 40% of children will have met criteria for a mental health diagnosis by adolescence
• 59% of parents were unaware of their teen’s emotional health concerns before screening
• 66% of teens suffer in silence from not receiving help for their emotional health concerns
• Emotional health problems can interfere with academic success, relationships, spirituality, and well-being and can lead to symptoms of depression, anxiety, alcohol or drug use, or suicide

I’m listening…so what is this screening program all about?

• A quick screening to identify a child’s behavioral/emotional strengths and weaknesses using a valid and reliable screening instrument administered by computer. The screening consists of 25 questions that help identify if a child is at risk to develop challenges such as depression, anxiety, relational problems, or substance abuse problems.
• 100% voluntary—children/teens can only participate with parental permission
• 100% confidential—all screening results are kept confidential, stored separately from academic records, and are not shared with school personnel unless there is written consent from parents

So how does it work?

1. Interested parents/guardians complete and return the consent form
2. Screening occurs during the school year and takes about 20 minutes per student
   1. Children/teens complete the screening questionnaire in a private setting at school
   2. Screening staff will review the questionnaire and discuss the results with your child/teen
   3. Any immediate concerns will be explored in more detail with screening staff
3. Parents receive a phone call and a letter highlighting their child’s strengths and/or areas for growth

What happens if there are any reasons for concern in the results?

If a member of the screening team recognizes any concerns, parents will immediately be notified. Recommendations and options to address any concerns will be provided.

 

What’s the cost?

Screening costs are covered by your school. Costs for the school vary depending on the size of the school and the number of onsite screening staff needed. If your school is interested in offering the screening service, contact the MAP Support Center for a specific quote.

 

For the MAP Support Center, please call 800.438.1772 or e-mail the program coordinator at assistance@wlcfs.org.

Where do you start when it comes to finding the right care options and programs for you or your loved ones?

 

With the Elder Care Navigation program, your care manager is an advocate and partner for your family. They are trained and experienced in helping people navigate the complex landscape of health care services and resources, answer questions about Medicare and Medicaid, help find the right in-home care or technology to help you or a loved one, or perhaps find the right assisted living situation for someone based on their individual needs.

 

Elder Care Navigation can help save time and money by helping eliminate costly ER visits or hospitalizations, helping with communication among family, follow up on health appointments or medication management, or even helping to find vetted legal or other resources for your family’s unique situation.

 

For more information on the Elder Care Navigation program, please call us at 888.685.9522.