Our Mission
Family Solutions is a community based, comprehensive behavioral health provider cultivating the wellness of Southwest Washington by offering hope and health to children, youth and families.
We believe that children are resilient and have the capacity to heal from adverse childhood experiences such as neglect, abuse, trauma and loss. The goal behind our services is to help children and caregivers grow and change in ways that facilitate the development of self and of healthy interpersonal relationships while also assisting children in achieving developmental milestones.
Family Solutions understands that we cannot accomplish this goal without extensive contact with all family members (biological, chosen and foster/adoptive), the community in which the child lives and other systems that are involved in the child's life (school, church, medical system, child welfare system, etc.).
We believe it is important to continuously model and encourage the development of healthy attachments. Family Solutions recognizes that recovery is a journey and that each child and family's journey is unique.
Equity Statement
Family Solutions is committed to health equity in our community. We recognize the many historical, social, and cultural factors impacting the mental health of children and families, particularly the impacts of systemic oppression based on race, sexual identity and sexual orientation. In 2018 we took the opportunity to understand this work more deeply through participation in a community equity collaborative. We have an employee led equity team whose purpose includes advancing our commitment to health equity by acknowledging, confronting, and dismantling systemic barriers to equity affecting our organization and our community. We recognize we are not yet where we want to be with reaching marginalized and underserved populations and strive to hold ourselves accountable to providing trauma-informed, anti-racist, and gender-affirming care, as well as changing policies and practices that contribute to oppression and making our environment as welcoming as possible for underserved communities.
Our History
Family Solutions was founded in October 2001 by Laura Osburn to serve children and families needing mental health services in Clark County, Washington. As a former foster child who went on to be adopted and, later, to adopt children of her own, it was Laura's vision to grow an agency focused on giving first-class care to adoptive and foster children — children that, as she knew from her own experiences, are prone to falling through the cracks of traditional healthcare and child welfare systems. In the beginning of Family Solutions, our 50 clients were served by three staff members, all of whom had personal experiences either with or as adoptive and foster children: Laura Osburn, Kristi Seward (now Wendell) and Lisa Catt (now Carpenter).
Since we first opened our doors, our scope of work has broadened significantly. We have expanded our services to include all children, youth, and families throughout the community. In 2022, Family Solutions served approximately 1500 children and their families throughout Clark County.
The face of our organization has also changed quite a bit since 2001. Today, we have more than 70 staff members including medical providers, masters-level therapists and social workers, bachelors-level family support specialists, certified peer counselors, and highly skilled administrative staff.
Though a lot has changed at Family Solutions over the last 22 years, one thing will always stay the same: our drive to help children and families become healthy and to achieve their full potential.
Our Board
Linda Reid
Board Chair and President
Sherry Keene
Vice President
Heidi Schultz
Treasurer
Rachelle Krebs
Director
Penny Hammac
Director
Our Team
Executive Staff
Lisa Carpenter, LICSW, LCSW — Chief Executive Officer
Tracy Arney, LICSW, LCSW — Chief Clinical Officer
Teresa Parriett — Chief Financial Officer
Support Staff
When you call or arrive at Family Solutions you will be greeted by our team of receptionists who will alert your provider to your arrival and assist with appointment scheduling as needed. We are able to accommodate your calls or walk-in needs in Spanish or English. Our support team also includes members who specialize in our intake process, medical records, and billing.
Clinical Staff
Our team of master's level therapists includes those trained as clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors. Each therapist holds a license in their field or works under the supervision of a licensed clinician. Many specialize in a specific type of therapy or population — trauma recovery and EMDR, play therapy for young children, and art therapy.
Medical Providers
Family Solutions has both MD psychiatrists and psychiatric ARNPs on our team of prescribers. All are board certified in child and adolescent psychiatry. Many of our psychiatry services are provided via telehealth, although you may be asked to come to the clinic for your appointment.