about us
North Homes Children and Family Services is a private, nonprofit agency aimed at providing comprehensive services to children and families in Minnesota and North Dakota.
It started with Jim Christmas, a former counselor at the Thistledew Youth Camp, a former educator at West Range Alternative Program for secondary school students and a former Itasca County Social Worker.
Jim combined his Master's Degree in Counseling/Psychology with his entrepreneurial spirit and took the risk to change how and where children in trouble could be helped. His first step, running a group home for adolescent boys, provided affordable services in the local community. Most children, at that time, were being sent out of town for services, putting additional stress and costs on families.
But his VISION was larger than a group home. He recognized the need for a full continuum of care for at-risk children and families. In 1990 he founded North Homes, a 501©3 private, nonprofit company that could respond quickly and effectively to community needs.
Since 1990 North Homes Children and Family Services has steadily increased its programs and services to best meet the needs of clients and their families. Currently, North Homes provides numerous programs in the areas of: Foster Care, Adoption Services, In-Home Family Services, Residential Treatment Cottage, Outpatient Chemical Dependency Services, Outpatient Mental Health Services, Medication Management, Fetal Alcohol Assessment Clinic, Family Group Conferencing, Next Step transitional services into adulthood and the ITASKIN Center with a Stabilization Shelter, 35 Day Evaluation Unit and Secure Detention.
Jim is truly a social entrepreneur with a pragmatic and holistic approach to the care and treatment of children and families.
Click here to download our 2009 Annual report (.pdf)
