About us

Families First is one of the leading providers of family based, in-home services in Eastern Iowa.  We are licensed by the State of Iowa and employ many highly trained and skilled Family Care Coordinators.  Families First has offices in Decorah, Dubuque, Clinton, Burlington and Waterloo and provides service to the counties surrounding each of these offices. 

Families First Family Care Coordinators can help the entire family become better able to cope with the daily stressors of raising a family, work and school. 

We believe in supporting people to their fullest potential and that partnering with families is the only way that the treatment process can be successful. 

Meet our Associates

Name: Laone Kishman
Job Title: Managing Partner

After 25 years in the Human Service field in multiple programs and disciplines Laone helped found Families First Counseling Services with the beliefs that children do best when they live in positive family environments, community based services are effective in helping families be happy and healthy and quality of service to the customer is paramount in creating an organization that is successful in a dramatically changing environment.

Laone’s primary responsibilities with the agency include staff supervision and development, customer service and Remedial Services Supervisor. Laone is also an active member of the Coalition for Family and Children Services in Iowa serving on the Executive Committee and as an officer.

Name: Rick Venenga
Job Title: Managing Partner

Rick has over 25 years experience working and managing different human service programs in Iowa. Rick helped establish Families First in 2002 with the belief that quality in-home supportive services is the beginning of assisting families to become healthy, contributing members of society. Rick is one of two dedicated Managing Partners who are active in the Coalition for Family and Children Services in Iowa, participates in the growth and development in Iowa’s Child Welfare programs and advocates for better legislation for all areas regarding children and families well-being.

Rick is an active leader within the agency providing consultation to staff in group and individual supervision and conducting direct staff development and training. Rick is also responsible for daily financial operations of the agency, performance improvement, client relations and human resources.

Name: Jennifer Steinbronn
Job Title: Performance Improvement Coordinator

Jennifer has served as the Performance Improvement Coordinator for Families First since August 2007. Prior to joining Families First, she was employed with the Department of Human Services for 10 years. She is responsible for Quality Management activities, including educational and performance monitoring of staff with emphasis on all of the agencies’ service documentation and quality of services delivered to children and families. In addition, she assists the supervisors in resolving issues related to contractual obligations relating to quality of services, and in performing focused reviews & audits.

Name: Sharon Durnin
Job Title: Office Manager

Sharon has been with Families First for 4 years and has over 15 years of Office Management experience. Sharon is responsible for maintaining daily operations in the Waterloo Families First office. Sharon provides direct oversight to the Administrative Assistants and billing support to the Care Coordinators in the service delivery area. Sharon manages all aspects of billing and staff payroll.>

Name: Katie Garnier
Job Title: Program Administrator

Katie has over 11 years of experience in the human service field and has been employed with Families First since June 2005. Katie represents Families First as a community liaison by facilitating Family Team Meeting trainings for community agencies as a State Approved Facilitator. Katie provides support and direction to care coordinators through group and individual supervision to ensure quality services are delivered to those families served by Families First.

Name: Nicole Winther
Job Title: Remedial Service Program Administrator

Nicole has over 10 years experience working in the Human Services field and has been working with Families First since September 2009. A good deal of Nicole’s professional experience consists of supervising the provision of services of adults with disabilities although she has also worked with children and families in both the home and school environment. Nicole has an educational back ground in Social Work and obtained her LMSW in May 2003.

Name: Lori Frick
Job Title: Program Area Supervisor

Lori has more than 20 yrs in the field of human services. Lori received a Masters Degree in Clinical Counseling Psychology at Loras College in 1997 and has been a Licensed Mental Health Counselor for 8 years. Prior to working with Families First, Lori worked for the Department of Human Services for 6 years as a Community Liaison. Lori provides support, direction and supervision to care coordinators in Clinton and Dubuque Counties as well as LPHA assessments in Clinton County.

FAQ's

1. Q.  Is Families First a faith based organization?
   A.  Families First has no affiliation to any religious denomination. 

2. Q.  Does Families First give my information to anyone without my permission?
   A.  Our privacy notification statement is located at the bottom of this page.

3. Q.  Why should I choose Families First over another provider in my area?
   Families First has a reputation for providing excellent service to its customers. Families First has many highly trained and experienced Family Care Coordinators to meet your needs.

4. Q.  Are there payment options for services like insurance or private pay?
   A.   Most of our services are funded through TXIX Insurance but we also accept private pay, which is based on a sliding-fee scale.

5. Q.  Who would I call If I have a question about any of your services?
   A.   You can call our toll free number 1-888-316-3025 and ask to speak to any one of our administrative staff.

6. Q.  Do I have to be in the “system” to get services or can I get help voluntarily?
   A.  You do not have to be involved with a formal system such as the Department of Human Services or Juvenille Court Services to receive help. In fact, services are completely voluntary and are designed with input from you. In other words, you help determine the goals you'd like to work towards and we develop a treatment plan based on those goals.

7. Q.  Do you work children who are adopted?
   A.  We are able to work with children who have been adopted as long as they meet the criteria for Remedial Services, insurance payment or private funding.

8. Q.  Do you work with special needs children?
   A.  We have many Family Care Coordinators with varying areas of professional expertise including children with RAD’s and SED’s.  However, in order for us to determine if we could help with your particular child we would want to assess with you what those specific needs are and who we think could help meet your needs.
   RAD--Reactive Attachment Disorder
   SED--Severe Emotional Distubance
   
   
9. Q.  How would I find out about internships or doing volunteer work for your organization?
   A.  You can either call 1-888-316-3025 or the Waterloo office number 319-433-0395 and ask to speak with one of the two Managing Partners or apply at our  web site www.families-first.net

10. Q.  How do I apply for a position with Families First Counseling?
    A.  You can either send a resume to Black’s Bldg., 111 Plaza Circle, Waterloo, Iowa  50701 or apply on-line at www. families-first.net

11. Q.  If I want help do I have to come to your office or will someone be able to come to my home?
    A.  Except for Title 19 in-office therapy services all services can be conducted in your home, at schools or in any other place that you are comfortable with.

12. Q.  What type of things do counselors work on with children and families?
    A.   During Remedial Service sessions Family Care Coordinators will work with your family on building skills such as communication, problem solving, decision making, conflict resolution and coping skills.

13. Q.  Are you required to report child abuse if you see it?
    A.  All Families First employees are Mandatory Child Abuse Reporters as mandated by the state of Iowa.  If there is a suspected abuse we are required to fill out a written report and submit it to the Department of Human Services for further investigation.

14. Q.  Are your services monitored to make sure you are doing a good job working with families?
    A.  We are monitored in several ways. 

• Our services are monitored by the State of Iowa, Department of Human services through formal client and Social Worker evaluations and feedback from Regional Contract Monitors. 
• We are evaluated by Iowa Medicaid Enterprises to ensure that we are meeting their standards for providing the appropriate services to families in Iowa.
• We are accredited by the Council on Accreditation which is a national accrediting body for agencies like ours whose job is to make sure that we are applying standards of best practice to our work with families.