Our Whole Family Approach recognizes and supports children and the adults in their lives together. It also recognizes that families come in many forms and define themselves. Whether we are serving a family or an individual, we listen first, build on strengths, and work alongside each person as they pursue stability, opportunity, and self-reliance.

Families identify what matters most to them, set their own goals, and choose the steps that fit their lives. Our role is to help people recognize their strengths, understand their options, and build confidence for the next challenge.

• Our culture: We listen first, respect people as experts in their own lives, build on strengths, and support goals chosen by the family.
• Our programs: Departments communicate and coordinate referrals when someone may benefit from more than one Lakes and Pines service.
• Our services: We help address immediate needs while connecting people with opportunities that can support longer-term stability and self-reliance.
• Our commitment: Lakes and Pines staff are trained in Family-Centered Coaching, a respectful, strengths-based approach that recognizes families as experts in their own lives and supports them in identifying and pursuing the goals that matter most to them.

Building strong families takes a strong community. For several years, Lakes and Pines has worked alongside the National Community Action Partnership as part of a broader effort among Community Action Agencies to bring a Whole Family Approach to their communities. We also partner locally with schools, counties, Tribal Nations, child care providers, housing partners, financial institutions, health providers, employers, and other community organizations, connecting families to resources and addressing gaps no single program or agency can close alone.

Depending on a household's goals, eligibility, and available funding, coordinated support may include:
• Early Head Start and Head Start family and child development services
• Energy Assistance, crisis assistance, energy related repairs, and Weatherization
• Housing stabilization, homelessness prevention, and rental assistance
• Home rehabilitation and accessibility improvements
• Social Security application assistance
• Financial Literacy, free tax preparation, and matched savings through FAIM
• Youth Services, life skills, and youth leadership opportunities

Each program has its own eligibility requirements, service area, and funding limits. Participation in one program does not guarantee eligibility for another. Our commitment is to help people understand their options and make informed choices.

Progress looks different for every family. It may mean keeping the heat on, finding stable housing, helping a child enter kindergarten ready to learn, completing education or training, finding employment, improving credit, building savings, or simply feeling more prepared to solve the next problem. The family's goals guide the work.

As our agency has always said, we are not our programs, our programs are the avenues we've chosen to fulfill our mission. The Whole Family Approach is how we make sure those avenues lead somewhere together.

Explore our integrated programs across East Central Minnesota. Start with the need that brought you here. (click below to visit specific program pages):
• Energy Assistance
• Housing Assistance
• Home Improvements
• Head Start Programs
• Financial Programs
• Self-Sufficiency Programs
• Youth Services