Our Staff   

Executive Director, Barbara Sample has 18 years experience working in the Social Service field.  Through her vision, Family Support Network was established in 1997 and has continued its mission to work with families at risk for abuse and neglect and families with a child with a mental illness.  Barbara has a Master’s degree in Special Education with an SED concentration from Eastern Montana College, Billings, MT.  Her professional credits include immediate past president Board of Directors Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, State of Montana Addictive and Mental Disorders Advisory Council, State of Montana Family Services Advisory Council, Mental Health Association (Award recipient), American Counseling Association, past Trustee Rocky Mountain College.

 Over 60% of our staff has earned Bachelor’s degrees in Education, Human Service or related fields.  Prior work experience of staff includes pre-school and child care experience, group home work, aid work in various school districts and many hours of community service to church and area non-profits.

 Currently, FSN staff partner with such agencies as Maternal Child Health, Drug Court, Early Childhood Intervention, Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch and In-Care. Several of our staff participate in the state System of Care Oversight Committee and the Yellowstone County Kid’s Management Advisory Committee. 

 Upon hire, new personnel are required to complete a training program that consists of five training elements and usually takes 4 to 6 weeks to finish.   In addition, new employees are required to observe 5 hours each of supervised visits, home visits and supervision with a trained member of our staff.  During the training period, the new employee not only observes supervision between staff and the FSN supervisor, but also fills out required paperwork for all shadowed home and supervised visits and participates in individual supervision.

 Family Support Network conducts a minimum mandatory 42 hours of additional training on a yearly basis.  Topics covered include child emotional and physical development, substance abuse issues, mental health issues and diagnosis, intervention and parenting strategies, staffing, and cultural competence trainings to name a few. Periodically, FSN sponsors intensive staff training from such institutions as Iowa University.