Founded in 2003, PRN for Families™ is a home-based program for families who have children or teenagers who are out of control or at imminent risk of being separated from their family. Together, we serve as a dedicated team of licensed clinicians, trained mentors, and support staff — led by Charles Elias, owner and operator of the program and a licensed LCSW, MAC, LAC. Charles works directly with these clinicians and mentors to provide clinical supervision, program development and outreach, to ensure that families receive the highest quality of services.
Charles Elias, LCSW, MAC, LAC – Owner and Operator
Charles Elias, LCSW, MAC, LAC, is the founder and owner of PRN for Families. He is a native of London, England, and became an American citizen in 2002. He received his bachelor’s degree in social work with distinction, and a minor in Youth Agency Administration from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, and his master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver. Charles has a long history and interest in providing family preservation services since 1985. Through PRN for Families, he works closely with a team of licensed professionals from around the country, who bring their own uniqueness, creativity and specialties to working with families.
Sheila Thornton, Senior Administrator
Sheila began working with Charles Elias, PRN’s founder, in 2007, with the goal of securing a strong foundation for the company. She has worn many hats as PRN for Families has grown, and always strives to support families however she is able. Sheila has been dedicated to supporting families and youth in need throughout her adult life, often serving as a host for young adults looking for stability and love. Sheila recognizes that parenting is a difficult, sometimes thankless job, but it is also — always — the best, most rewarding, personally fulfilling work a person can do. In her free time, Sheila enjoys reading, music, sewing, cross-stitching, scrapbooking, enjoying the outdoors, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Darlene Therrien, Finance/Human Resource Manager
Darlene Therrien is the Finance/Human Resource Manager at PRN for Families. She began working at the organization in December of 2019. She relocated to Colorado in the summer of 2019 to be with her children and grandchildren, after retiring from the Dover School District in New Hampshire. Darlene enjoys the mountains, gardening, reading and just being here with her family.
Karen Blyveis, MSW, Ethics and Compliance Officer
Karen was born and raised in Michigan but has lived in Colorado since 1998. She received her bachelor’s in sociology and bachelor’s in history from the University of Michigan and her master’s in social work from Colorado State University. Karen spent more than 20 years working in various capacities with and on behalf of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities before joining PRN for Families in 2023.
Tomas Ellis, case manager and outreach coordinator
Tomas was born in London and moved to Adelaide, Australia at 8 years old. In 2024 he moved to Colorado to start working with PRN for Families. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychological science, majoring in marketing from the University of New South Wales in Sydney. He is passionate about improving the awareness of PRN for Families programs and loves collaborating with external organizations to expand the availability of resources to those families who need PRN the most. Outside of work, he enjoys watching and playing soccer and spending time outdoors.