Grand View University
Grand View University
Read more about our Families First Counseling Services partnership with Grand View University.
Read moreMount Mercy University
Mount Mercy University
Read more about our Families First Counseling Services partnership with Mount Mercy University.
Read moreEducational Partnership Advantages Program
Families First is excited to share the educational partnerships we've developed with Grand View and Mount Mercy Universities. Within these partnerships, each university is excited to offer Families First Counseling Services employees continuing education opportunities that will further prepare them for a successful career in the human services field. While each partnership is unique, each of them offer discounted tuition opportunities to our employees who desire to further their academic studies and education. Please see details listed for each respective university by selecting their university logo.
State Award - Tom Lewis Award Recipient
Dawn Lynes has dedicated over 35 years to working with children and families in the child welfare arena, having demonstrated an outstanding commitment to working with children and families and having a positive impact in her community. Dawn has a degree from Wartburg College school of Social Work and has her LBSW. Dawn has an extensive and broad professional experience in the child welfare field, having worked in residential, shelter and community-based family centered services programming. Dawn has been employed with Families First Counseling for the last 12 years as a Care Coordinator/Family Support Specialist.
Dawn has an extensive skill set and excels at developing treatment plans, outlining goals, developing service activities, providing daily groups, connecting families to community resources, tools and education, and overall assessment of family/individual safety and risk. Dawn has been a valuable team member over the last 12 years and is seen as a valuable team player internally and among our public partners. She goes above and beyond to make sure that all the families on her caseload receive quality services, focusing on strong client engagement practices and evidence-based program/practice service delivery.
Dawn has outstanding partnerships with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), juvenile court and other community partners. Dawn embraces her advocacy role for families with a positive attitude and is always looking for creative solutions when problems arise. Congratulations to Dawn Lynes for being the Tom Lewis award recipient, acknowledging her tireless dedication, passion, and commitment to the social work field.
Food Drive at Holiday Season
Families First employees partnered with a local area business in Fort Dodge to help distribute turkeys and other food items to families in need ahead of the holiday season.
Clothing Closet
Families First employees volunteer their time and talents in Cedar Rapids at the Families Helping Families Clothing Closet. Families First employees assisted this local organization in preparation for a fundraising event. The money brought in went towards providing low-income families with necessary clothing.
Sock Drive
A Families First employee is pictured gathering donated socks from a sock drive. Collaboration between Families First, a local Diversity Committee and Fort Dodge Correctional Facility resulted in these necessary donations. These socks were provided to children and adults alike throughout the holiday season who were in need of new socks to help keep them warm.