Community Partners
Parenting is one of life’s hardest jobs. Community Partners is here to offer a helping hand.
When you’re out of work, unsure how to maintain your home, the baby won’t stop crying, or you don’t know how to manage your child’s needs, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and uncertain. We offer connections to resources and problem solving to help you find your family’s next steps.
You don’t have to be in crisis to call and get support. Community Partners offers short-term case management services to families, connecting them to resources in our community and working with them to problem solve.
Iris Family Support Center offers Community Partners services in these counties: Allen, DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Whitley
Why would I call Community Partners?
Here are some situations we might be able to help you navigate:
Managing home and family.
Problem solving to figure out how to keep your children safe and take the next right step as a family.
Employment search and resume building.
Support with mental health and connections to additional resources.
Support with budgeting, building home safety and stability, referrals for food, clothing and home necessities.
We support the process of you finding the next step of your housing journey. Nationally, housing is a struggle. We may not have all the answers, but we are here to walk alongside you and guide you in the right direction by helping clients apply for income-based housing, connecting to private landlords, providing transportation to look at apts.
Children in crisis because of parents’ job loss, death in the family or separation.
Navigation of connections surrounding family conflict or interpersonal violence situations.
Children facing school or behavioral corners that may create stress for the whole family.
How do I get services?
Families can service by calling Iris at 260-421-5000 or filling out the form below. We’ll ask a few simple questions to make sure Community Partners is the right fit for you. If we can help, we’ll work with our partners to connect you to the help you need for your family.
We will respond to you within 24 hours and potentially schedule a time to meet with you in the next week.
Community agencies including DCS, schools, hospitals, and social service agencies refer families to Community Partners at Iris.
Who qualifies for services?
Families with children in the home, ages 18 or younger, or who are prenatal. 18 year olds must live in the home and be currently enrolled in school.
Services can be as simple as getting resources over the phone all the way up to weekly home case management.
Families with an open assessment with the Department of Child Services (DCS).
Families not receiving services through Healthy Families, on juvenile probation, or with an active DCS case.
Our goal is to support families before a crisis occurs.
What else do I need to know?
All services are provided free of charge and are completely voluntary.
We are the neutral party that can support you as a parent before any crisis occurs.
Community Partners will come to you generally on a weekly basis. No need to make an office visit.
Iris Family Support Center works with local social service providers in each of our service counties to ensure you always have the best services available to help your family.
Community Resource List
Finding the right place to go can be the first obstacle, especially when stressed. Our Community Resource List helps families overcome that obstacle by having an easy to search database of the resource in our area.
This project is supported by funding from the Indiana Department of Child Services and its Community Partners for Child Safety program. Iris provides Community Partners for Child Safety services throughout 6 counties in Northeast Indiana.
You can find the list by clicking the button below. Similar printable PDF versions of this list for each county are available at the bottom of the page that’s linked below.
Partner Agencies
Iris Family Support Center proudly provides Community Partners for Child Safety services throughout DCS Regions 4 through a contract awarded by the State of Indiana. A core part of this service is partnering with local organizations to support children and families. We subcontract services to the following partner agencies:
