2025 Annual Report

A note from our Executive Director:
Because of your generosity, we served more than 700 families across St. Joseph County in 2025. Through expanded Brain Train sessions to two convenient locations, nearly 200 Tech Crossing meetings, and more than 3,300 Healthy Families home visits, we walked alongside parents during some of the most important, and vulnerable, moments of early childhood. Our work is grounded in prevention, and the results matter. Once again, more than 99% of the families we served remained free from child abuse and neglect.
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That means safer homes, stronger parent-child bonds, and brighter futures taking root right here in our community. Thank you for investing in the belief that every child deserves a safe and healthy start.

— Roxanne Ultz, LCSW, Executive Director

Program Highlights

The Brain Train
Brain Train provided 870 individual guided play sessions and 22 group sessions for 101 families across two locations this year. These free sessions give parents hands-on tools to support early brain development, strengthen attachment, and help children meet important milestones.

​Tech Crossing
Tech Crossing supported 30 children and their families through 194 engaging, hands-on learning sessions focused on building kindergarten readiness and digital skills. By pairing technology access with proven early learning tools, the program helps both parents and children grow in confidence as they prepare for school.

​Healthy Families of St. Joseph County
Healthy Families of St. Joseph County provided 3,391 one-on-one home visits to 461 families by supporting new and expectant parents as they build safe, stable, and nurturing homes for their children. The majority of families served face significant financial strain, with many living at or below the poverty line and 60% of assessed households led by single parents. Our home visitors meet families where they are to offer guidance on child development, safe sleep, bonding, and parental well-being.
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The practice of home visiting helps parents bond with their babies, keep their children healthy, and prepare them for school. When families get steady support early on, children are less likely to need costly services later in life. Healthy Families builds confidence in parents today while creating stronger, brighter futures for their children tomorrow.

​​In-Home Crisis Counseling
Through generous support from the Valinhos Foundation, FCC provides in-home counseling for program families and offers post-partum distress and mental health crisis support right where families feel most comfortable.

Impact Highlights

  • Our 2025 Spotlight fundraiser with Daunte Culpepper and the long-standing Michiana Masters Golf Outing rallied generous sponsors and supporters​ to sustain our mission.

  • We launched a Compassion Closet stocked with brand-new cribs, car seats, diapers, baby gates, and other essentials, many of which were distributed immediately to families who otherwise would have gone without.
 
  • Community generosity brought Christmas joy to 72 working families to give children the experience of the warmth and excitement of the holiday — some for the very first time.
 
  • Thanks to Catherine and John Hiler and our board members, 476 parents and children enjoyed a special day at Potawatomi Zoo building memories and stronger family bonds.

  • Through eight public presentations and new partnerships with Talk With Your Baby, The Children's Museum, and Lakeshore Learning, FCC expanded its leadership and created more spaces where families feel supported and connected.

The Families We Serve

​Family Structure 
Sixty percent of families are led by single parents who are navigating early childhood without a spouse, which requires balancing work, caregiving, and financial pressures on their own.

Income Realities 
Nearly half of families earn under $20,000 annually, and some report no income at all, which illustrates the deep economic challenges parents face.

Languages Spoken 
While most families speak English, FCC also supports households speaking Spanish and several other languages, including Urdu, Arabic, and Russian.
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Racial and Ethnic Diversity 
Those we serve reflect the rich diversity of our community, with approximately 64% of participating families identifying as racial or ethnic minorities.

Board of Directors

​Family & Children's Center
Mary Jo Ogren, Chair Miguel Salazar, Vice Chair Logan Anderson, Treasurer Jamey Haigh, Secretary Beau Dunfee Ed Foley Shaheen Goldrick Tonya Hardisty Marcia Jones, Emeritus Steve Neeser Chris Rowland Pat Ruszkowski, Emeritus Jen Tonkovich Ken Sage
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Family & Children's Center Inc.
​Chris Rowland, Chair Steve Staszewski, Vice Chair Jamey Haigh, Treasurer Logan Anderson, Secretary Len Amat Jack Gregory Brian Lake, Emeritus Marcia Jones, Emeritus Carmi Murphy Mary Jo Ogren Andy Pocock Miguel Salazar Clinton Squadroni

Corporate Benefactors

​We are grateful to our leading corporate benefactors in 2025 who we can always rely on to meet critical family needs, both big and small.
Past Reports