Mark Molberg is worried.
Florida is a big place, and he doesn’t know exactly where in the Sunshine State his 8-year-old son lives now. He’s worried that his son isn’t getting the medication he needs. He is worried, most of all, about whether he will ever see his boy again.
So he has come to Monday- night parent support group at Families First, where he knows he can talk to people who will do more than listen. They will understand – because most of them, too, know firsthand that families aren’t all cut in the “Leave It to Beaver” mold.
Sometimes, the other members of his group even offer practical tips – like which lawyers are most adept at tracking elusive ex-spouses, and what schools must communicate to a parent who shares custody of a child.
For 20 years, Families First has been about protecting and healing children. And the people there know one of the best ways to do that is to help parents.
This year, the nonprofit is seeking funds from the Post/ News Season to Share campaign.
Families First tackles its mission on two tracks: It works to nurture and heal children harmed by abuse and neglect, and it tries to prevent children from being harmed in the first place.
It applies numerous tools toward the latter goal. There is a family support line, which stressed or confused parents can call daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
There also are individual and group counseling and parent support groups, which meet across the metro area most weekday evenings.
Not only are those groups free, but Families First provides free, on-site child care while parents are hashing out the week’s concerns.
“Our family support services are for any parent … not just for at-risk or abusive parents,” said Jo Blum, Families First executive director.
Families First also houses as many as 10 children so scarred by abuse or neglect they have trouble in ordinary foster homes.
“Our residential program is therapeutic from the time children wake up to the time they go to bed,” Blum said.
“Mealtime or bath time can be as healing as an individual therapy session. And we try to make every moment count,” she said.
The children get individual and family therapy – when there is a family, Blum said. In many cases, however, a court has formally ended the parents’ relationship with the child.
Molberg and the seven moms who joined him in a recent Monday-night support group are not parents in danger of losing their children. They are parents who are stressed out, concerned, frustrated.
And as Blum sees it, they are parents who are strong.
“We believe asking for help is a sign of strength,” she said.
Staff writer Karen Augé can be reached at 303-954-1733 or kauge@denverpost.com.
How to help
Post-News Season to Share, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, gave more than $1.73 million to 56 agencies last year serving children and people who are hungry, homeless or in need of medical care. Donations are matched 50 cents to the dollar, and 100 percent of the donations go to the charitable agencies. To contribute, please see the coupon on Page 4C, call 888-683-4483 or visit seasontoshare.com.
