Family Service Rochester

04/28/2026

At our recent volunteer event, we created a potting station where each volunteer planted something to take home and watch grow. It’s a simple but powerful reflection of what volunteering is all about.

Just like a seed, small acts of kindness grow into something much bigger, bringing joy, connection, and support to those we serve.
Thank you to The Home Depot and The Plant Shack for helping bring this potting station experience to life.

04/27/2026

Your feedback is incredibly important! Attend this session (childcare provided) at Harriet Bishop Elementary on April 28th from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

This is an opportunity for you to share your perspective, and we hope you'll attend now, and join a second session in June.

For more information, contact zfarmer@aeon.org

04/26/2026

Jennifer and Brenda are attending AFP ICON alongside fellow fundraising professionals from AFP Southern Minnesota. Grateful for the opportunity to learn new ways to engage donors and strengthen support for our mission of building a healthier, more connected community. 💜

04/25/2026

oldnational.com/cyc. Type in Family Service Rochester help us win. Old National Bank

04/25/2026

If you are struggling to find Mental Health support, we can help.

At Family Service Rochester, we’ve built our mental health services around helping people move through barriers to access support.

Needing support is not unusual. Struggling to access it shouldn’t be the norm, but we know it often is. That’s why we’ve shaped our mental health services around the realities people face every day: busy schedules, financial concerns, uncertainty about where to start, and the need for care that actually fits.

If you’re thinking about reaching out, you don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to start the conversation.

Discover how we can support you in finding the care you deserve:

People in Olmsted County continue to experience challenges scheduling mental health services. The 2025 Community Heal…

04/24/2026

Seasonal yard cleanup is the perfect way to volunteer and support your neighbors! You can also volunteer to mow or help with seasonal maintenance tasks. Sign up to volunteer on your own or create a group with family, friends, and colleagues.

Find the volunteering opportunity that makes the most of your skills and suits your schedule! See open requests here: https://familyservicerochester.galaxydigital.com/need/

04/23/2026

Staff Spotlight: Matthew Erpelding

Meet Matthew Erpelding, who brings an unusual blend of experience to his work at FSR. Originally from rural northern Iowa, not far from the Minnesota border, Matthew grew up in a small-town farming environment and was drawn early to the arts and music. That passion became his first career: he spent roughly 20 years in music education.

As a music teacher, he found himself doing far more than delivering content. He was building trust, creating safety, listening closely, and helping students navigate vulnerable moments. Matthew returned to graduate school and earned a Master of Science in Clinical Counseling from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Since joining FSR in June 2024, Matthew says he has found exactly the kind of workplace he hoped for: authentic, collaborative, and grounded in compassion. He values the skill and collegiality of his coworkers, and he appreciates working in an environment where clinicians are trusted to do their jobs, grow in their craft, and seek support when they need it.

You can learn more about him on our site, search "Staff Spotlight Matt Erpelding" on familyservicerochester.org

https://familyservicerochester.org/post/Staff-Spotlight-Matt-Erpelding

Matt brings an unusual blend of experience to his work at FSR. Originally from rural northern Iowa, not far f…

04/22/2026

This is an incredible partnership and we can’t thank Jay, John and Knutson Construction enough! What these kids are learning about building, construction, tools, teamwork, giving back, youth mental health and so much more is unbelievable. Thank you to all who are involved.

04/22/2026

At Family Service Rochester, it takes a well-rounded team to provide all our programs to the community, and our admins are very important to the communication, coordination, and quality of service our neighbors depend on.

Join us in appreciation this Administrative Professionals Day!

04/22/2026

Did you know Family Service Rochester is accepting new mental health clients? We have immediate openings.

Life can feel overwhelming at times. Whether it’s anxiety that won’t ease, challenges in relationships, supporting a child or teen, or simply feeling the weight of everything going on around you. It’s easy to put off getting support, but you don’t have to wait.

If you've been thinking about starting therapy, now may be the right time.

Reaching out can feel like a big step, but it can also be the start of meaningful change. Whether you’re looking for support for yourself, your child, or your family, we’re here to help.

Schedule an appointment or learn more today. Call us at 507-287-2010

More info on how FSR can support you: https://familyservicerochester.org/post/If-You-ve-Been-Thinking-About-Starting-Therapy-Now-May-Be-the-Right-Time

04/20/2026

Your child is a completely different person in a therapist's office than they are at home.

In a clinical setting, the triggers aren't there. So, the challenging behaviors aren't either. The therapist sees a regulated, cooperative kid. You see someone who holds it together all day and then falls apart the moment they walk through your front door.

That gap isn't a mystery. It makes complete sense. And its exactly why in-home therapy works differently than anything else.

Is In-Home Therapy Right for Your Family? Learn more: https://familyservicerochester.org/post/in-home-therapy-rochester-mn

04/19/2026

April is a dedicated time to raise awareness about child abuse prevention, provide education and encourage communities to support families. Traditional child welfare focuses on interventions, responding after abuse/neglect happens. Prevention is about keeping families healthy from the start.

Prevention is all about how working together with families and communities can stop child abuse before it even happens. It starts by making sure families have the support, resources, and connections they need early on before small challenges turn into bigger problems/a crisis

When abuse or neglect happens, it is often not about poor parenting but about a lack of resources and support. FRCs are designed to be stigma free access to resources and support all families need to thrive. A welcoming and inclusive hub of services and opportunities to strengthen families.

The FRC is based on research from the Strengthening Families Project (link to center on the study of social policy). This approach helps families become stronger, supports healthy child development, and works to prevent child abuse and neglect. It focuses on building five key strengths, called Protective Factors, that help families do well:

1) Parental Resilience: Parents being able to handle stress and bounce back from tough situations.

2) Social Connections: Having supportive relationships with friends, neighbors, and the community.

3) Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development: Understanding how children grow and what they need at different stages.

4) Concrete Support in Times of Need: Getting help during difficult times, like with housing, jobs, or unexpected emergencies.

5) Social and Emotional Competence of Children: Helping children build healthy relationships, express their feelings, and manage their behavior.

Focusing on enhancing these protective factors within families can reduce parent stress and help parents enjoy their children more.