The Logan County Family Resource Network (FRN) recently held its’ December Board of Directors’ meeting at PRIDE in Logan County, Inc. Special guest speakers were Diana Masso, Lori Ferguson and Harold Keener.

Diana Masso, staff therapist with the Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center (KPCC), announced that counseling services are now available in a Chapmanville satellite office.

Masso expressed that the goal of KPCC is to help strengthen relationships, deal effectively with transitions and pursue personal growth. The KPCC staff, many of whom are ordained or avowed, seek to help persons improve communication skills, examine unexplored options and beliefs, find hidden inner resources and think in terms of the bigger picture of life.

Masso explained that services are very affordable and that fee waivers may be an option. If you or someone you know is interested in more information, contact the KPCC main office in Charleston at 304-346-9689 or 800-340-9680.

Lori Ferguson, ABLE Families Respite Team Leader, expressed that the Kermit, based non-profit organization currently offers respite care services to Logan County children with special needs. Respite care services are available to eligible families at no cost. Ferguson explained that ABLE Families is dedicated to empowering families. Informational hand-outs stated that the organization’s mission “to confront the systemic causes of poverty and to assist families as they make changes in their lives” is the motivation for the various programs and the people it serves.

ABLE Families stands for Affirming, Believing, Learning and Empowering. For more information about the ABLE Families respite care program or other available services, call 304-393-4987.

Harold Keener with LINK Child Care Resource & Referral graciously recapped the importance of the child care services program. Keener stated that LINK, located in downtown Logan in the White and Browning building, provides families with financial aid for child care and that the LINK staff seeks to help families and child care provider locate resources, understand their options and make good decisions about the care of children.

Keener also challenged listeners with Blue Ribbons for Kids. The ribbons are geared to bring awareness about the prevention of maltreatment to children. For information about LINK or Blue Ribbons for Kids, contact Harold or Vanessa at 752-3932.

FRN Board members and participants in attendance were as follows: Judy Cope, Mary Davis, Nadine Adams, Thomas Tolliver, Jean Turner and Donna Craddock (FRN Board of Directors Family Representatives); Debra Fields with WV Rehabilitation Services; Nicole Logan with Volunteer WV; Sherrie Barrett with ACDS; Sally Stollings with Kiwanis; Darlena Ables with Logan DHHR; Robyn Ooten with PRIDE Head-Start; Pastor Lee Williams with Bruce McDonald United Methodist Church; Judy Hall with Workforce WV; Harold Keener with LINK; Sandra Davis with Logan County Health Department; Brenda Harlow with WV Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program; Kim Sheppard with Dignity Hospice; Lori Ferguson with ABLE Families; Sharon Laxton with Mentoring Children of Prisoners Council; Nancy Godby with Logan Regional Medical Center; Jim Cockerham with Logan Vet Center Outstation; Diana Masso; Dwight Williamson, Logan County Magistrate and Shannon Meade.

The FRN meets every second Wednesday of each month. FRN meetings provide a place for the entire community to work together to make things better for families, youth and children. Participants discuss the needs of Logan County and make plans that best meet those needs. The next FRN meeting is January 9 at 10:30 a.m. at PRIDE in Logan County, Inc. (699 Stratton Street). For more information, contact Shannon Meade, FRN Coordinator at 752-9536.