Family Center News
2002-2004 Family Center Report Now Available
The 2002-2004 Family Center Report is now available on the Center for Schools and Communities web site. At the time of the data collection for this report, 47 Family Centers operated across the state funded primarily through the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) with additional funding from various other combinations of federal, state, local and private moneys. The results presented in this report are based on data from families and children who were enrolled in 2002-03 and 2003-04 fiscal years and from the 2003-2004 Parent Satisfaction Surveys and Administrator Surveys.
For more information on the report and to download it in PDF format, click here.
About Family Centers
Family Centers are an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Office of Children, Youth and Families
Building strong families and strong communities...
For over a decade, Pennsylvania Family Centers have provided community services to help families become healthy, well-educated and self-sufficient.
Family Centers provide a framework for strengthening families by assuring healthy development and access to healthcare services for children, and encouraging economic self-sufficiency.
Family Centers promote positive child development through effective parenting, early intervention and outreach activities, and they support and preserve the family unit as the child’s foundation for success.
Family Centers provide a seamless, comprehensive, and easily accessed network of services for children and their families. Services are provided on-site in the local family center, in families’ homes, and through referral to other agencies and resources in the community.
Family Centers are more than a program. They represent a philosophy of family support, a process of community collaboration, and a place where children and families come together to learn and grow.
They offer a variety of services and supports uniquely designed to meet the needs of children and families in their communities.
Family Center services include:
- Parent support and information groups
- Child health and development screenings
- In-home child development sessions
- Family activities
- Toy- and book-lending libraries
- Information about getting health insurance and health care
- Information and help in getting other community services
- Information about finding employment, adult education and literacy instruction
Resources
On this page you can find various resources pertaining to Family Centers.
Family Center Overview
A brief one-page overview of the Family Center Initiative in Pennsylvania.
2002-2004 Family Center Report
The 2002-2004 Family Center Report is now available on the Center for Schools and Communities web site. At the time of the data collection for this report, 47 Family Centers operated across the state funded primarily through the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) with additional funding from various other combinations of federal, state, local and private moneys. The results presented in this report are based on data from families and children who were enrolled in 2002-03 and 2003-04 fiscal years and from the 2003-2004 Parent Satisfaction Surveys and Administrator Surveys.
For more information on the report and to download it in PDF format, click here.
2001-2002 Family Center Evaluation Report
Click here to read the 2001-2002 Family Center Evaluation Report.
Family Center Locations
Family Centers are a place within the community where parents can come together to share, support each other, learn about and benefit from their community's resources. Center sites are often school-based or school-linked to assure successful transition from early childhood and Head Start programs and support active parental involvement in their children's educational programs. School-based sites can benefit from the use of school facilities and resources and can provide a neutral and non-stigmatic environment for access and delivery of services.
Click here to locate Family Centers in Pennsylvania (online)
Click here for a list of all state-funded Family Center Locations in Pennsylvania (PDF)
Fatherhood Initiative Overview
A brief one-page overview of the Fatherhood Initiative in Pennsylvania.
Fatherhood Site Contact List (PDF)
Parental Involvement
Parents are essential participants in the planning and governing process and must represent at least 25% of the planning and governing body for Family Centers.
Visit the Parent Information Page (en espanol)
Parent Child Home Program (PCHP)
PCHP Contact List (PDF)
Family Centers and the Family Service System Reform Initiative...
The Family Center Initiative plays a significant role in a community's effort to redirect education, health, welfare and employment services to help families increase their economic well-being and self-sufficiency.
To expand the innovative work of Family Centers, the Family Service System Reform (FSSR) Initiative was created. The FSSR initiative encourages communities to form collaborative boards comprised of government, education, community service providers and consumers to assess their local needs and develop strategies to address these needs. This collaborative process would result in an integrated service delivery system.
Click here to find out more about Family Service System Reform
[Last updated June 27, 2006]
