Hello! My name is Karissa Monzo, and I am a Family Support Navigator here at Family Futures. I have been with Family Futures for just over two years. It’s been the best experience of my career! I love getting to chat with families and share my knowledge and experience!
About Me and My Family
I have lived in the Greater Grand Rapids area since 2010 and have been married to my husband for 10 years. We have three kids ages eight, seven, and five. Also, we have a crazy dog named Luna, who has added to the chaos of having a young family! I have been a stay-at-home mom and a career mom, a nursing mom and a formula mom, a helicopter mom and a natural consequences mom. I have had two high risk pregnancies that resulted in preemies, and I’ve had a full-term pregnancy. If you have questions about similar events in your life, I would be happy to share my experiences with you!
I shared in an earlier blog that my middle child was diagnosed with special needs in December of 2020 and how that affected us as a family (blog linked here: Dealing with a Diagnosis). We’ve attended different therapy sessions and have worked with our school system to create the best learning environment for him. If you are dealing with a similar situation, I’m here for you.
We are huge University of Michigan fans in this house, and we love to watch football. My kids love being involved in sports, and of course they are all interested in something different. At this current stage of life, we’re shuttling kids to football, basketball and gymnastics. It’s crazy and our schedule is usually nonstop!
More About Me
Summer is my favorite season, and it’s never hot enough for me. I love spending time at my in-law’s cottage on the lake. We spend as much time as possible on the water! I love ice cream, pizza, and reading! I’m terrified of snakes and winter driving!
In terms of education, I attended Grand Valley State University, and have a background in Early Childhood Education. I spent many years teaching preschool, and later running centers as a Program Director. I loved working in the classrooms and seeing happy little faces grow and develop. Watching each child learn something new was one of my favorite things about my previous job.
Why I’m a Family Support Navigator
My passion is working with families and helping them understand how their child grows and develops. I love sharing my experiences as a teacher, and as a mom. My goal is to make each family that I work with feel they are in a safe space, know that they can vent about the struggles of parenting, and know they will not be judged. I’m here to walk alongside each family and help make this journey easier, and relatable. To get in contact with me or another Family Support Navigator, contact us on our website or email us at navigation@familyfutures.org.
