Families are at the heart of our mission

About Wisconsin Family Ties

Wisconsin Family Ties started with humble beginnings through a meeting of support groups made up of like-minded families from around the state of Wisconsin who were focused on addressing and improving the outlook for their children’s mental health.

Three decades later, we have grown into the largest parent-run organization of its kind in the state, offering research-based, family-focused, and parent-led programs and services.

Our experiences as parents make us uniquely qualified to support families–without judgment–because we have been there too. With your help, we will continue our mission and grow for years to come.

Our Mission

Changing lives by improving children’s mental health

Our Model of Family-driven Care

Welcoming, Inviting, Perspective-shifting, Listening, Accepting, Never giving up

Family-driven care is supported using fundamentals of the proprietary WI PLAN Model of Family Engagement. Through a collaborative relationship fostered by the parent peer specialist’s commitment to the WI PLAN, positive momentum builds in the home, school, and community.

Our Guiding Principles

Wisconsin Family Ties is guided in our mission by a series of core principles that connect our experiences as parents to the support we provide the families that we serve. It’s that connection and a relentless perseverance that often leads to the level of trust families need to attain the outcomes they desire.

Our Impact

Through a collaborative relationship with parents, one built on trust and common experience, our parent peer specialists make a difference. Simply put, we keep families together.

At Home

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Percentage of parents note they feel better able to cope with their family situation since connecting with Wisconsin Family Ties

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Percentage of parents who have indicated that Wisconsin Family Ties services helped to improve the family’s situation

In School

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Percentage of parents note that they are more satisfied with the school plan since working with WFT

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Percentage of parents indicate that the school understands their child better since connecting with a parent peer specialist

In The Community

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Percentage of parents are more hopeful about the future since connecting with Wisconsin Family Ties

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Percentage of parents indicate that WFT helped them to obtain information about their child’s diagnosis, treatment options, or available community programs

Our Board and Staff

The majority of our board members are parents of children with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. They bring a breadth of life and professional experiences to their governance role. Areas of expertise and experience include: advocacy, psychiatry, public and private education, as well as tribal membership.

Our staff works every day to improve children’s mental health in Wisconsin through activities impacting families in local communities to state and national systems. Our parent peer specialists, all of whom have children with needs similar to those of the families we serve, are the heart and soul of Wisconsin Family Ties.

View Board & Staff Page

Irritated schoolgirl talking to psychoanalyst about negative fee

Our process for requesting services

Receiving services from Wisconsin Family Ties starts with a referral. Referral may come from parents, county human services employees, educators, and medical/mental health professionals. If you or someone you know can benefit from the support we provide, know that anyone can make a referral for our services.

Please complete our online Request Services Form or contact our Connection Coordinator today. We will make every effort to reply within two to three business days.

Connections Coordinator
connect@wifamilyties.org
Phone: 608-267-6800, Ext. 1