FSN NEWS
Los Alamos Family Strengths Network (FSN) is inviting the community to visit FSN at an open house on March 17, from 4:30 – 6:00 at 3540 Orange St.
Family Strengths Network is a local non-profit that was created around a kitchen table of concerned parents hoping to stop child abuse in the community in October of 1989. In the last thirty-years, FSN has grown to serve families with support groups, educational classes, family events and other important family resources. In celebrating the 30th year, FSN would like to invite you to visit and see why FSN and its services are loved by so many families in the community.
Nancy Bliss, board president says, “Family Strengths Network is a valuable part of our community because it provides a comfortable place where families can gather for fellowship, learning, and support.”
Carie Fanning, FSN’s Executive Director believes FSN’s greatest strength is the ability to help individuals connect and create relationships within their community. “FSN helps families get their footing. So often our families feel isolated because they don’t know where or how to connect with others who are faced with the same struggles. This is particularly true for families that have moved to the community and left their support systems behind, which as we know is most of us. Also, very vulnerable to isolation, are those who are adjusting to having a new baby in their home. Babies are beautiful and welcomed, but are also incredibly challenging. FSN creates a space for families to connect, share the joys and pains of parenting, and move out of isolation and into a community of support.”
One of FSN’s many services is the Toy Lending Library. This library serves the whole community, young and old alike. FSN board member Liz Laemmle says, “the toy lending library is a life saver for grandparents and others for when we have little visitors who weren’t able to bring many toys on their visit.” The toy library lends out pack-n-plays, high-chairs, swings and several different kinds of toys. Matthew Allen, a parent who has used the toy library said that the library was a life saver when his 1 year old was diagnosed with a sensory delay. “Rather than having to buy lots of expensive toys to just test if they would help my daughter, FSN would let us borrow them and find out what actually worked. It saved us a lot of money.”
If you would like to learn more about FSN, visit their website at https://www.lafsn.org/. You can sign up to receive an email called “FSN Weekly News” of all the activities that FSN is providing for that month. Activities for the month of March include groups such as: Birth Talk, Chit Chat and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, activities like Toddler Tunes, Toddler Crafts, a PJ party and educational classes such as “Love and Logic.”
Visiting the website and receiving the newsletter are great, but if you really want to know about FSN, you have to walk through the door. Merely reading this article is like looking at your dessert, never tasting it. Come to the open house or stop by anytime!