Who We Are

Willows Way began as Home Assistance Services in 1989, founded by Kathy Williamson and Mary Owens in their home. Their dedication to improving lives inspired them to develop personal care services for the elderly, as well as respite care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Department of Mental Health asked the agency to support a young adult temporarily. To address his unique needs, they developed a customized residential plan, which initiated the concept of “Individualized Supported Living.”

Willows Way has expanded to include the Realities program, which provides support for individuals living independently for 2 to 12 hours each week.

Project HEART was launched, offering free health education classes, skills training, and resources in a small group setting to promote healthy habits, enhance relationships, and increase independence.

Willows Way began constructing our current location in 2005 and moved in February 2006, marking an important milestone in our growth. We occupied the lower level and shared the space with other companies to help manage costs effectively.

The RISE program was introduced as an alternative to traditional day habilitation, encouraging clients to participate in community service and organized activities to foster social connections.

Willows Way started Host Home Family (HHF) services, focusing on building lasting relationships as a foundation for life skills and self-esteem, while allowing individuals more control over their living arrangements and daily lives.

We made significant progress by expanding RISE and relocating our administrative team to the vacant space on the upper level of our building. This expansion allowed us to install a new elevator, made possible through funding from DDRB, enhancing accessibility for everyone.

With the support of our other tenants, we were able to pay off the property, creating a solid foundation for future opportunities and growth. In 2021, we achieved a significant milestone by expanding into the entire building and growing the RISE program into a portion of the upper level.

Willows Way launched Mental Health Counseling Services for adults with disabilities, initially funded by a DDRB grant and now fully supported by private funds.

We offer significant value to our clients and the community through a combination of psychoeducation and therapeutic techniques, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), solution-focused therapy, and play therapy. Our goal is to provide tailored, comprehensive care that empowers individuals to live life to the fullest.

We enhanced our space by adding a pavilion behind us that overlooks the lake. This improvement has allowed us to expand our programs and gatherings, providing a wonderful setting for our community to come together.

Through a generous American Rescue Plan Amendment (ARPA) grant from the Developmental Disabilities Resource Board, Willows Way was able to make some needed improvements to its administrative and program space.

We renovated the RISE program area downstairs to include dedicated classrooms and a gaming room. Thanks to the support of a local organization, we acquired high-tech and fully accessible equipment for our new gaming center.