About The Family Café

Family Cafe logo cropped

Our Mission Statement

The Family Café exists to provide individuals with disabilities and their families with an opportunity for collaboration, advocacy, friendship and empowerment by serving as a facilitator of communication, a space for dialogue and a source of information.

Our Story

The Family Café began in 1998 when a group of parents of children with disabilities recognized their shared challenge in finding the information, resources, and knowledge they required to facilitate their children’s educational development. In response to this need, they came together to found The Family Café, an organization with the mission to provide individuals with disabilities and their families with an opportunity for Collaboration, Advocacy, Friendship and Empowerment by serving as a facilitator of communication, a space for dialogue, and a source of information.

To fulfill that mission . . . READ MORE

Our Value Statement

In all of its activities, The Family Café adheres to a guiding set of principles. Those values are as follows:

  1. Informed individuals and their families make better choices.
  2. All people, independent of their abilities and needs, deserve timely, accurate information regarding the options available to them.
  3. Individuals and their families require a forum where they can gather to network and share concerns, educate themselves about available services, and find a united voice to influence public policy and positively alter the service delivery system.
  4. Families and individuals living with disabilities and special health care needs should exist in an environment that demands excellence over adequacy, honors the individual over bureacratic procedure, and provides support through compassion, not compulsion.
  5. Communities and neighborhoods must continue to expand their capacity to be responsive to the needs of their residents with disabilities and their families.
  6. All individuals, regardless of their abilities, deserve the opportunity to maximize the quality of their lives.
  7. All individuals, regardless of their abilities, deserve the opportunity to find gainful employment.
  8. It is the responsibility of The Family Café to maximize its service to individuals and families by using funds wisely and pursuing a variety of revenue sources, including grant opportunities and alternative fundraising initiatives.

Our Team

The Family Cafe staff standing in front of the office.

Lori Fahey, President and CEO

Jeremy Countryman, Vice President

Joe McCann, Policy Manager

Sarah Fahey, Event Manager

Tanya Hansen, Financial Administrator

Our Programs

Our Board of Directors

These devoted members of The Family Café team work to bring you quality content and events year to year.

Jim DeBeaugrine, Board Chair
Mark Fafard

Lori Fahey

Staar Fields
Jeannie Forthuber
Yolanda Herrera
Patricia Ann Oglesby
Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez
Angelita Salado
Tammy Turner
Gil Williams

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