Family Haven expands supportive resources to northern Utah County with new Lehi center
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- A ribbon-cutting at the new Family Haven support center in Lehi is pictured Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025.
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- The nursery inside the new Family Haven support center in Lehi is pictured Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025.
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- The Family Haven Board of Director pose for a photo during a grand opening celebration at the new Family Haven support center in Lehi on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025.
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- Lehi Mayor Mark Johnson is pictured during a grand opening celebration at the new Family Haven support center in Lehi on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025.
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- The nursery inside the new Family Haven support center in Lehi is pictured Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025.
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- Lehi City Councilwoman Paige Albrecht is pictured during a grand opening celebration at the new Family Haven support center in Lehi on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025.
Families in northern Utah County now have a new outlet for social and emotional wellness services, and they won’t have to drive far to access the resources.
Family Haven has officially opened the doors of its newest facility in Lehi, located one block west of Willowcreek Middle School.
Family Haven is a support center with a focus of building a community of happy, healthy families and individuals through a variety of prevention programs and therapy services, according to its website.
For more than 40 years, the non-profit organization has provided healing and hope for families and struggling individuals from its Orem-based location.
Janelle Christensen, executive director at Family Haven, said the support center’s expansion to Lehi was driven by Utah County’s rapid growth, and the lack of similar services being offered in the area.
“We really wanted to come to the west part of the county because the Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs (and) west Lehi community is what we considered is most underserved, farthest from a lot of the hub of social services in Utah County that are located in Provo and Orem,” she said.
Christensen also cites the increase of young families in the area as another factor for the expansion.
“So when you look at what that means and how many young families there are — and young children there are — in need of support, education and tools for their toolbox to thrive together as families, we wanted to get as close to them as possible,” she noted.
While Family Haven’s Orem location annually serves more than 12,000 people, Christensen anticipates the new Lehi facility will eventually meet a similar demand.
The new facility was previously an assisted living center. Christensen said Family Haven obtained funding from Utah County to purchase the building in 2023 and shortly after they began renovations to meet its needs.
Family Haven offers four main programs: a nursery program for kids 0-11, parenting classes, prevention education and clinical therapy.
The nursery offers free, 24/7 childcare in a home-like setting for young children and is equipped with toys, games, puzzles, and a kitchen for meals. In urgent cases, parents can schedule care in advance or get help within 30 minutes.
Christensen describes Family Haven as a safety net for parents and individuals seeking vital resources in times of hardships.
“Parenting is hard and life is hard, it really takes a village,” she said. “And so we believe a lot in creating those connections and relationships and preventing reaching a crisis point. We’re here for you when you’re in crisis but we’re also here for you to just take care of yourself and take a break so that you are then better able to take care of your kids.”
Family Haven is sharing part of the building with New Hope Academy, who recently relocated from its previous site near 1200 W. and 3200 North in Lehi.
Laura Lee Norton, co-director at New Hope Academy said the private school partnered with Family Haven, in efforts to align their missions to support families in crisis.
“We loved the idea of being in the same building where there’s going to be therapists and other services that could be beneficial for our families, and then hopefully, maybe for some of their families as well,” she explained.
New Hope Academy offers an alternative environment for children who struggle in public schools.
The academy focuses on creating safe environments for academic and social success, and Norton said they are excited about future collaborations with Family Haven.
On Saturday, Family Haven celebrated the grand opening of the new facility, but Christensen said they’re currently awaiting full licensing from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services so they can begin providing services there.
In the meantime, Family Haven invites community members to learn about the resources the organization offers and how it can be a lifeline to those in crisis.
“I know that initial step of it being a new place and not having a full picture of who we are (and) what we do might be a barrier for people, so we’re always happy to take calls and take people on tours (to) learn about it,” Christensen said.
Family Haven’s Lehi facility is located at 322 N. 2375 West.
More information can be found at family-haven.org.
