Begun in 1988, the program is sponsored locally by Appalachian State University and the Children’s Developmental Services Agency of the Blue Ridge. We are an affiliate of the Family Support Network of North Carolina.

Our central office is located in Boone at 2359 Highway 105 in the Children’s Developmental Services Agency of the Blue Ridge.

We serve Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey Counties. All services are free and confidential.

How We Help:

• Match families one-to-one with a trained, volunteer family for emotional support and information
• Sponsor support groups
• Connect to statewide and area resources, lending libraries, and legislative information
• Sponsor workshops for families and service providers
• Promote collaboration among families and service providers
• Connect with hospital programs for children transferred out of the county
• Support Foster Family programs

Who Benefits from FSN-HC:

Families who have:

• Children and youth with behavioral and emotional challenges
• Children and youth with difficulties learning, hearing, seeing, moving or speaking
• Children and youth with chronic illnesses
• High risk or premature infants
• Grief due to the loss of a child or infant

Please contact us so we can begin assisting you today!

Who We Are

Kaaren Hayes, Director
hayeskl@appstate.edu
828-262-6089 or toll-free 866-812-3122

Norma Bouchard,
Outreach Coordinator: Alleghany, Ashe & Wilkes
bouchardnj@appstate.edu
336-246-3222 or toll-free 866-8112-3122

Teresa Emory,
Outreach Coordinator: Mitchell & Yancey
emorytd@appstate.edu
828-682-4772 or toll-free 866-448-5781

Debbie Bowman,
Outreach Coordianator: Avery & Watauga
bowmandb@appstate.edu
828-733-6419 or toll-free 866-812-3122