1. Family Resource Centers/Family Support Presentation Leticia Alejandrez Foundation Consortium for CA’s Children & Youth

2. CA FAMILY RESOURCE ASSN. Mission: to Influence policy and advocate for the resources and programs needed for families and communities to thrive and succeed. Mission: to Influence policy and advocate for the resources and programs needed for families and communities to thrive and succeed. CFRA represents the interest and needs of CA FRCs and CBO that help families and children achieve safety, stability and self- sufficiency. CFRA represents the interest and needs of CA FRCs and CBO that help families and children achieve safety, stability and self- sufficiency.

3. OVERVIEW Background/History Background/History What constitutes an FRC What constitutes an FRC FRC Goals and Characteristics FRC Goals and Characteristics FRC Model – San Joaquin CPF FRC Model – San Joaquin CPF Other considerations Other considerations

4. BACKGROUND/HISTORY Settlement Houses – late 1800s Settlement Houses – late 1800s Provided support to Immigrants: Provided support to Immigrants:  Acculturation  Skill Building  Social Advocacy – Adapt to American Culture  Workers lived in community

5. TODAY’S FRC Similar SH Values/Practices Similar SH Values/Practices Designed around Self-help, Parent Involvement, “Family Support” Designed around Self-help, Parent Involvement, “Family Support” Family Support defined – “Teaching to fish v. Giving a fish” Family Support defined – “Teaching to fish v. Giving a fish” Families/Communities have assets Families/Communities have assets

6. FAMILY SUPPORT PRINCIPLES 1. Staff enhance families’ capacity to support the growth and development of all family members. 2. Practitioners work with families to mobilize formal and informal resources to support family development. 3. Programs affirm and strengthen families’ cultural, racial and linguistic identities and enhance their ability to function in a multicultural society.

7. (Cont’d) 4. Families are resources to their own members, to other families, to programs, and to communities. 5. Programs are embedded in their communities and contribute to the community-building process. 6. Principles of family support are modeled in all program activities, including planning, governance, and administration.

8. (Cont’d) 7. Families are resources to their own members, to other families, to programs, and to communities. 8. Programs are embedded in their communities and contribute to the community-building process. 9. Principles of family support are modeled in all program activities, including planning, governance, and administration.

9. SHORT-HAND: FRC Support comprehensive services for families Support comprehensive services for families Beacon of service: move government services to neighborhoods and respond to community priorities and needs Beacon of service: move government services to neighborhoods and respond to community priorities and needs Community Engagement/Building Component – space to use, staff support, work with/in community Community Engagement/Building Component – space to use, staff support, work with/in community

10. FRC Key prevention strategy Key prevention strategy Goal: Healthy Families/Communities Goal: Healthy Families/Communities Improve outcomes Improve outcomes Bring together services/activities that educate, develop skills and promote healthy families Bring together services/activities that educate, develop skills and promote healthy families

11. FRC ADDRESS ISSUES:  Family and Community Health  Educational Outcomes  Child Abuse & Neglect  Substance Abuse  Family Violence  Family Instability  Juvenile Violence and Crime  Welfare to Work/Employment  Community Unity  Family Isolation

12. FRC CHARACTERISTICS  Center Environment (place)  Approach to Services & Supports (program)  Community Involvement & Shared Responsibility (philosophy)  Family Integrity and Functioning (philosophy)

13. CENTER ENVIRONMENT Welcoming Welcoming Comfortable Comfortable Belonging Belonging Ideas & opinions matter Ideas & opinions matter Safe environment Safe environment

14. APPROACH TO SERVICES/SUPPORTS Hub of community services Hub of community services Collaboration Collaboration Blend of services, supports opportunities Blend of services, supports opportunities Staff/Families are partners Staff/Families are partners Engage whole family Engage whole family

15. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT/SHARED RESPONSIBLITY In community In community Of the community Of the community By and for community By and for community

16. FAMILY FUNCTIONING Encourage safe, stable, healthy relationships among family Encourage safe, stable, healthy relationships among family Parenting education & support Parenting education & support Programs respect culture, customs, beliefs Programs respect culture, customs, beliefs Families receive support/connections needed Families receive support/connections needed

17. FRC MODELS Robina Ashgar, Community Partnership for Families of San Joaquin

18. CONSIDERATIONS CFRA as a partner CFRA as a partner Build off existing efforts – CWS Reforms, Mental Health, Family Economic Success Build off existing efforts – CWS Reforms, Mental Health, Family Economic Success First 5 partners First 5 partners Focus on outcomes – program improvements/outcomes Focus on outcomes – program improvements/outcomes