With two offices within our region we provide St Paul Regional Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) programs as well as the programs for Lakeland Family Resource Network LFRN and the St Paul Youth Council (SPYC). We have a community engaged Advisory Board that consists of town and county councilors, as well as community members at large who provide insight on community needs. With 6 full time staff members supporting the region, we rely on and appreciate our many volunteers that ensure our programs are successful.
Staff
Brenda Billo, Director
Brenda has been a valued member of the FCSS team since 2018, bringing her passion for humanity, relationships, and design to everything she does. Starting as a receptionist, she quickly adapted to the evolving needs of our community, especially during the regionalization where she advanced to become a Programmer. Most recently, she has taken on the role of St Paul Regional Family and Community Support Services Director, where her dedication and attention to detail continue to shape the programs that serve our community’s needs.
Brenda engages regularly with supporting seniors and newcomers, helping them navigate the ever-changing systems available to them. She is also the creative force behind many of the advertisements you see on communication boards and social media, ensuring that the information about our FCSS programs reaches those who need it most.
Outside of work, Brenda is a proud mom to two young adult children who continue to amaze her regularly and has a close-knit network of friends who keep her connected to the community. Brenda’s compassion, willingness to help, and her commitment to finding solutions for others make her a key figure in our community. If she doesn’t know the answer right away, she’ll always make sure to find it!
Need to connect? email her.
Kim Ouellette, Family Education Programmer
Kim joined the team in 2017. Her daily goal is to connect with kids in any way she can. She sings, dances, crafts, plays, reads, runs, jumps and skips! Simply put, she lights up when there are children of any age in front of her. Her passion for these youth in our community is infectious. Her background in child development and raising two kids of her own has given her the skills, experience and knowledge to connect. Want to go on a "bug hunt"? email her today!
Leah Burton, Family Educator Programmer Assistant
Leah joined the team in October of 2021. She has years of experience with youth and families in our community, working with them and watching them grow. Leah has a welcoming personality that is calm and warm. Raising 3 children has given her patience, openness, and knowledge of what it means to grow up in a rural community filled with digital noise. Need Support? Email her today.
Gwen Pierce, Programmer
Gwen joined the LFRN team in 2023. She works out of our Elk Point office offering both FCSS and LFRN programs. Her ability to ask questions, dig deep and feel compassion for her community allows us to connect and understand what the needs of today are. This mom of two teens is soft spoken, smart, quick to learn and jumps right in. Check out our Elk Point office and meet Gwen or connect by email!
Melanie Joly, Programmer
Melanie joined FCSS in December of 2024, bringing with her a deep commitment to supporting families and a strong background in early education. Her wealth of knowledge, multilingual skills, approachable spirit and creative talents make her an invaluable part of our team. Melanie works passionately to create fun, eye catching engaging social media connections, ensuring that our programs reach as many people as possible.
Melanie is a busy mom who approaches life with a compassionate, positive, cheery spin. Looking for support or have questions? Don’t hesitate to connect with Melanie today—she’s always happy to help!
Tania Hicks, Receptionist
Tania joined our team in late 2024 and quickly became a key player in supporting our community. While she excels in many areas, (including excel) her welcoming and positive character is the first you meet when you visit us in person at the St Paul location. Although she is new to the area, she is not new to FCSS. More than our receptionist, she is a valued teammate and a true friend to us all. With extensive knowledge of government programs, Tania is a trusted resource for information and constantly seeks opportunities to learn and grow.
Outside of her work, Tania is a proud mom of two adult sons and is now focused on giving back to our community. She is passionate about making a positive impact and helping others. Got a question or need assistance? Don’t hesitate to reach out to Tania today via email—she’s here to help!