Our August virtual Lunch & Learn explored how Family Resource Centers (FRCs) are a natural front door to community pathways because they produce proven results. Yet, FRCs still lack the state recognition and funding needed to fully realize their potential for supporting families.

Family Resource Centers (FRCs) work:

Since FRCs launched in 2009, San Francisco has seen a 52% reduction in the rate of children in foster care, and the rate of substantiated child maltreatment has dropped more than 60%.
Research shows that in California, a Family Support Organization (FSO) can generate $3.65 per dollar invested in savings to the child welfare system over a two-year period by reducing child maltreatment cases.

These data and more are available on the Family Services Alliance, https://sffamilyservicesalliance.org/about-us/#family-support-outcomes

There’s proof that a different path can work. We are excited to have had experts from Colorado where they have had a state-recognized Family Resource Center Program for more than 25 years, and state funding makes up the largest single share of that network’s budget.

Family Resource Centers (FRCs) work: Since San Francisco launched its FRC network in 2009, the city has achieved a 52% reduction in the rate of children in foster care and a more than 60% drop in substantiated child maltreatment.
The ROI of Prevention: Research in California demonstrates that Family Support Organizations generate $3.65 in savings to the child welfare system for every single dollar invested over a two-year period.

Learning from Colorado: Our guests from Colorado shared invaluable insights from their state-recognized FRC Program, which has operated successfully for over 25 years with robust state funding making up the largest share of the network’s budget.

Panelist Contact Information: If you would like to follow up with our speakers regarding their work or the insights they shared, you can reach them directly via email:

• Janay Eustace, Chief Executive Officer, California Child Abuse Prevention Center,
  jeustace@thecapcenter.org
  
• Virginia Taylor, Senior Policy Advisor, Safe & Sound
  virginia.taylor@safeandsound.org
  
• Mandy Watrous-Gale, Executive Director, Family Resource Center Association of Colorado
  (Please reach out via the FRCA Website Contact or mwatrous-gale@cofamilycenters.org)
  
• Marika Padilla, Family Resource Center Program Administrator, Colorado Department of Early Childhood
  (Please reach out via the CDEC Website Contact or marika.padilla@state.co.us)
  
• Dr. Pegah Faed (Facilitator), Chief Executive Officer, Safe & Sound
  pegah.faed@safeandsound.org

We hope you will join us again in the November for the next serie.