At Goshen Valley, our mission has always been to serve families, not just reactively but proactively. One of the key ways we live out this mission is through our mental health and family support services. Goshen Therapeutic Services (GTS) was born from the question: How do we serve families to prevent children from entering into foster care? With this guiding principle, GTS began offering preventative services to support families both before, during and after interactions with the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS). These early services helped us establish a foundation that paved the way for what would later become the Family Resource Center (FRC).
We have always believed that Goshen’s impact reaches far beyond just foster care. The establishment of the Family Resource Center (FRC) enables us to engage with families before a crisis occurs and to assist those striving to regain stability. While it was essential for us to begin by supporting the families of Cherokee County, we are confident that our efforts here will extend to meet the needs of communities across Northwest Georgia. – Zach Blend
As GTS continued to expand, we recognized the growing need for a place where families in the community could receive holistic care and resources. The seeds for the FRC were planted when we received grant funding in September 2022, allowing us to start our program and later open the doors of the center in March 2023. From day one, our goal was to create a system of support for families in the surrounding areas—families who might not have access to essential resources.
At the Family Resource Center, our dedicated team members are passionate about the families we serve and care deeply about our mission of preventative and supportive services. Through a strength based, trauma informed, and family friendly approach, we work to prevent families from experiencing a crisis while also helping to navigate life’s challenges. Families thrive when they feel supported and connected and our hope is that families in our community know that Goshen’s Family Resource Center is a place to come for that support and connection. We truly are better together. – Dana Zehner
The Family Resource Center has become a crucial part of Goshen’s outreach to the local community, particularly in the Northwoods apartments located next to our Family Resource Center. As we began to build relationships with the families living in Northwoods, we were intentional about how we introduced ourselves. Our team went door to door inviting families to a Community Block Party. Although there was initial hesitancy, it was not long before families warmed to the idea, especially when Kona Ice trucks rolled in to bring joy to the kids. Beyond events, we focused on simple acts of support, like helping replace soccer goals and equipment, building a covered bench for the 50 kids who wait at the bus stop in our parking lot each morning, and inviting families to play times at our new playground. We even celebrated the end of the school year with popsicles, reinforcing our commitment to breaking down barriers and building trust with our neighbors.
Most of the families living in Northwoods are low-income, with many single parents and multiple children. The neighborhood’s proximity to the FRC has been vital, especially since many of the families do not have access to reliable transportation. Being close by has allowed us to provide consistent support, whether that’s food, diapers, or connections to critical resources.
One of the first significant needs we identified in the community was diapers. While we initially focused on providing food, we quickly realized that many families also struggled to afford diapers. Thanks to community partnerships and generous donations, providing diapers has become one of our most important services. In fact, we have distributed over 30,000 diapers since the FRC opened, and the need continues to grow.
Our work with Northwoods has evolved over time. What began as providing basic needs has grown into offering mental health counseling, therapy for children, and parent support services. One of the most powerful aspects of the relationships we have built is how deeply we have become integrated into the lives of these families. Whether its offering therapy, helping children enroll in school, or aiding parents in finding employment, the FRC is a cornerstone of support.
Our partnerships with organizations like Helping Mamas, the Diaper Bank of Northeast Georgia, Cherokee County Schools, and local churches and businesses have expanded the resources we can offer. These relationships are essential in helping us meet the varied needs of the families we serve. For example, through our partnership with Cherokee Family Violence Center, we have been able to provide therapy services directly in their building, resulting in a higher rate of participation and better outcomes for the moms we serve.
The impact the FRC has made on families in Northwoods is clear. One family, who initially came to us for food and diapers, is now thriving. With our help, they enrolled their older son in school, secured full-time employment for the mom, and have moved from a shared apartment to a more stable living situation. These success stories are a testament to the unique role Goshen plays in the community—a reliable and consistent source of support for vulnerable families.
But it is not just the families that have been impacted by the FRC. Goshen Valley’s mission has been furthered in ways we did not anticipate. Meeting the families in Northwoods, seeing their needs firsthand, has driven our team to be creative, responsive, and compassionate. We are building deep, meaningful relationships, and the trust we have cultivated allows us to provide care in ways that go beyond just meeting physical needs.
For many people it is difficult to turn to others for help and let them into their lives. In order to better serve the families in the community we aimed to start with building relationships with the families and communities near the office. Allowing families to get to know the staff and the mission behind Goshen Valley allows the families to be more open to understanding how the Goshen Family Resource Center can be beneficial for their family. By taking the time to talk with families we can start breaking the stigma that asking for help is not okay or that therapy is not for them. We want families to know that we want to walk with them through their difficult times until they can see the light at the end of the tunnel. – Esmeralda Lopez
As we continue to serve the Northwoods community, the heart of our mission remains the same: to meet people where they are and walk alongside them. Whether through food, diapers, therapy, or simply being a friendly face in the neighborhood, the Family Resource Center is a beacon of hope, reminding families that they are not alone.
Gratitude is one of the words I can express for Goshen, they are not only another organization that came to Cherokee County, in my own experience I can say that the Goshen organization arrived making a difference in terms of commitment to the community. Goshen and their team do great things for the community, not only financially, they are committed to giving back to the community, offering their support and kindness. Goshen and their team are more than an organization, they are a family that the Cherokee County community needs and expects. – FRC Client
The journey of the FRC is still unfolding, and as we grow, we will continue to ensure that every family feels seen, known, and supported. Because at the end of the day, that is what Goshen is all about—building relationships that last and making a tangible difference in the lives of those around us.
