CROWN POINT — A Crown Point couple with special-needs children say their lives have been improved by the support they're getting from Families First and United Way of Clinton and Essex Counties.

Gary and Peg Stevens of Crown Point are raising their grandchildren Austen, 15; Charles, 14; and Lee, 13.

"Their lives have been changed in large part because of the support of United Way," Clinton-Essex United Way Executive Director John Bernardi said.

Mr. Stevens said he and his wife felt strongly that the children should have a good home.

"Our story is 11 years long. We have three children with special needs. We adopted them from our youngest daughter. They were going to go into the (foster care) system."

He said the family has been working for six years with Elizabethtown-based Families First and with United Way.

"They educate us on different things we need to know, how to handle special children, how to work with them."

Families First Executive Director JoAnne M. Caswell said the Stevenses' children have also had health issues.

"They've (Mr. and Mrs. Stevens) done everything we've asked them to do. The children have significant needs. They have been a tremendous family to work with."

The family gets weekly visits from a Families First case worker.

"It's a quite a challenge. We get some government funding, but the actual money we get from the United Way allows us to expand (services)."

Government can't be all things to all people, Bernardi said.

"One of the things about the United Way network is we're able to provide some very vital services. The United Way is a vehicle that allows us to come together and make sure those services come together for us. We're not just a fundraising organization, we're a health and human services agency."

Mr. Stevens came forward with his story because he wants to help United Way and Families First for what they've done for his family.

"They've always been there to help us no matter what time. It means a lot. If there's a way they can be helped it would be highly appreciated."

Essex County Board of Supervisors Chair Cathy Moses (R-Schroon) said she'd like county workers to expand their involvement with United Way.

"I know these are tough times, but I learned that out of 650 employees, less than 10 are helping United Way."

Mr. Stevens said they've gotten help from Families First at any time of the day or night when they needed it.

"Where would we be today without Families First, I don't know. There have been many trips to CVPH (Medical Center). It's been a challenge, but overall, it's been a pleasure also to have these children with us."

Families First provides support services to Essex County families with special-needs children. Caswell said the agency works with families to empower, support and educate them to care for their children at home rather than in an institution.

Each family receives a case manager and a family-support coordinator to help navigate the system, deal with crises, learn advocacy and create plans to stabilize the families, she said.

People like the Stevens family are one of the reasons United Way exists, Bernardi said.

"They're an inspiration to us all. It's a great story."

E-mail Lohr McKinstry at: lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com