The Role Of Family Resource Centers And Regional Centers In Local Communities
- Saratessa Palos
- Apr 19, 2023
- 2 min read
The Role Of Family Resource Centers And Regional Centers In Local Communities
Family resource centers and regional centers play a critical role in providing families and those with disabilities with the support necessary to live healthy, fulfilled lives. Each center offers targeted resources within local communities, ensuring diverse populations receive access to life-changing services and support.
Family Resource Centers
Family Resource Centers are school or community-based programs that provide support and targeted services based on familial needs. The centers also operate under the names parent education centers, family support centers, libraries, family centers, parent-child resource centers, and family centers and are often located within hospitals, schools, new and restored buildings, and housing projects. There are many services available to families within these centers, including:
Housing
Parent Skills training
Basic economics needs assistance
Drop-in care centers
Crisis care and respite services
Home visitations
Literacy support
Job training
Child care
Violence protection
Family and mental health counseling
Substance use prevention
Children with special needs services
Many family resource centers partner with social and human service agencies to provide families with preventative and ongoing support through high-quality programs within their community, a goal that is achieved through the Family Resource Center Association. The FRCA equips each center with research, evaluation, training, and quality control standards that ensure citizens receive quality care and support at all service levels.
Funding for family resource centers varies, with each community receiving specified amounts according to logistics, including the local living costs, physical space availability, and specific programming services. Federal funding sources differ by region and may include programs like:
Title IV-B, including Promoting Safe and Stable Families
Community Collaborations to Strengthen and Preserve Families
Social Services Block Grant
Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment & Training
For more information on Federal Funding and Family Resource Centers, click here.
For more information and to find a family resource center in your area, click here.
Regional Centers
Regional centers are private, nonprofit corporations contracted with the Department of Developmental Services to provide coordinated support and services for those with developmental disabilities. For an individual to be eligible for these services, they must have an indefinite disability beginning before their eighteenth birthday, as defined in California Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 4512(a)(1). Eligibility is determined through assessment and diagnosis performed through the regional center.
Additionally, at-risk toddlers and infants may qualify if eligible under California Government Code Section 95014. Early Start services, which include genetic diagnostics counseling, and preventative care, are also available to those at risk of having a developmentally disabled child. Children age three and four may qualify for provisional services without a diagnosis if they demonstrate significant functional limitations within two or more areas of life.
For more eligibility information, click here.
In addition to assessing and diagnosing disabilities, regional centers provide numerous resources for eligible individuals and their families. While most services are free, out-of-home care for children does incur a shared cost as outlined in the Parental Fee Program and Family Cost Participation Program. Some of the many services provided by regional centers include:
Purchase of necessary services included in the individual program plan
Planning, placement, and monitoring for 24-hour out-of-home care
Information and referral
Assistance in finding and using community and other resources
For more service information, click here.
Additional Regional Center Resources
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