1992
Four mothers of children with disabilities, Michele Finstad, Joanne Warwick, Diane Webb and Cindy
Chandler, met in each others homes as the Sutter County Parent Network. We developed a resource
library for special needs. This was before the internet and parents needed up to date information. Today we
all understand the information age and the power, comfort and support that information can provide.
Our first library and support activities opened as a portable bookcase located in the Lincrest Elementary
School Library. Nancy Sager, then co-principal at Lincrest, was very supportive and her husband, Victor,
built and donated the bookcases that we are still using today.
1993
As we grew we moved to Gibson Avenue into what had been a storage room at Butchie’s Pool. We were
open for business and were so grateful to Larry Montna and Butchie’s Pool for the space. We continued to
serve families with disabilities through an Early Start Family Resource Center contract and collaboratively
develop trainings and community forums such as Building the Foundation for Success, and Special Needs
Collaborations with the folks in education ad regional center.
1994
As we out grew the storage room and Easter Seal Society wanted the space we moved to a spacious
location on Bridge Street that Michele found. She truly had vision for the network. That’s where we grew with
support groups, IEP Help sessions, and DDS funded Early Start programming for infants and toddlers.
Diane Webb orchestrated much of the work to gain our non-profit status with tutoring from our friends at
Area Board III on Developmental Disabilities.
1999
ABLE RIDERS became one of our programs and has brought so many parents together! The project is one
of the best examples of parents empowered and emboldened to create support in so many ways. Wonderful
community volunteers and our skilled instructor Debbie Bryant work true magic in the arena. We started at
Matt Stephens arenas and then with new owners and new name Rafter K. We are currently at Butte Star
Ranch.
2001
Next came a wonderful opportunity to share office space with the Clients Rights Advocates for Sierra Vista
residents across from the BelAir Shopping Center on Stabler Lane. We were also neighbors with Alta
California Regional Center.
2002
We submitted a proposal to the Sutter County Children and Families Commission for a Special Needs
Project after serving on task forces and committees during the strategic planning phases of the “Prop 10”
commission. The Special Needs Project, serving families with children age 0-6, made it possible to add a
social worker and project coordinator in addition to a Spanish Parent Liaison.
2005
We changed our name to Family SOUP in the fall of 2005 and launched a public awareness campaign.
December 1, 2005 we lost our lease on Starr Drive when Alta California Regional Center decided to expand
their space. We moved in January 2006 to Sierra Avenue.
2006
In July we submitted a proposal to the California Department of Education for a Family Empowerment Center
grant to expand services to Hmong, Punjabi, Spanish speakers in Colusa, Yuba and Sutter Counties.
Family SOUP was awarded the grant in October.
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