Alaska Family Resource Project
What is the Alaska Family Resource Center Network?
The Alaska Family Resource Center (FRC) Network is a statewide membership of Family Resource Centers located in schools and community agencies within Alaska. The Alaska FRC Network is a member of the National Family Support Network and a workgroup of the Alaska Impact Alliance. Alaska’s FRC Network is 1 of 38 State FRC Networks supporting more than 3,000 FRCs in the U.S.
Family Resource Centers (FRCs) offer Family Support and Strengthening programs and resources.
They are known by many different names across the country, including Family Centers, Family Success Centers, Family Support Centers, and Parent-Child Centers. They may be community-based or school-based. They serve as welcoming hubs of community services and opportunities designed to strengthen families. Their activities and programs, typically provided at no or low cost to participants, are developed to reflect and be responsive to the specific needs, cultures, and interests of the communities and populations served. There is no dedicated federal funding for FRCs, and yet there are more than 3,000 of them nationwide.
The purpose of the Alaska Family Resource Center Network is to support the development, growth, and sustainability of culturally responsive Family Resource Centers that build on the strengths and meet the unique and diverse needs of all Alaskan communities and their families.
AK Family Resource Center Network Leadership Team
Abby Struffert
AIA, Director of AK Family Resources Center Network
Paul Cornils
Alaska Youth and Family Network
Dawn Paulson
Beacon Hill
Rozel Buzby
Alaska Behavioral Health
Leigh Bolin
Resource Center for Parents and Children
Desiree Scott
VOA Alaska
AK Family Resource Center Network Implementation Partners
National Family Resource Center Network
Family Resource Center Association - Colorado FRC
Child Welfare Academy, University of Alaska
AK Family Resource Center Network Funding Partners
Alaska State Legislature
AK Mental Health Trust
Child Welfare Academy, University of Alaska
Alaska Family Resource Center Playbook
Family Resource Centers
FRCs are the most typical kind of Family Support and Strengthening programs. They are known by many different names across the country, including Family Centers, Family Success Centers, Family Support Centers, and Parent-Child Centers. They may be community-based or school-based. They serve as welcoming hubs of community services and opportunities designed to strengthen families. Their activities and programs, typically provided at no or low cost to participants, are developed to reflect and be responsive to the specific needs, cultures, and interests of the communities and populations served. There is no dedicated federal funding for FRCs, and yet there are more than 3,000 of them nationwide.
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View the National Family Resource Center Network One-pager:
What is a Family Resource Center? -
Family Resource Centers and Child Welfare: ec0538_3879587b4f994b16a627bc0da43852e4.pdf
(nationalfamilysupportnetwork.org) -
Learn more from the
National Family Resource Center Network (NFSN) - Contact Alaska’s FRC Network Director to get more information about FRCs in Alaska: Abby Struffert, [email protected]
GOALS OF AN FRC:
- To support families to be strong, healthy, and successful
- To contribute to building a strong and healthy community
- To reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect by building the research-based Strengthening Families Protective Factors
FRCS WORK WITH FAMILIES WITH AN APPROACH THAT IS:
- Multi-generational
- Strengths-based
- Family-centered
- Community-designed
FRCS WILL OFFER THESE POTENTIAL SERVICES AND MORE:
- Referral and Service Navigation
- Parenting Classes and Support Groups
- Concrete Supports
- Education Assistance
- Family Nights and Other Events
DEVELOPING A NEW FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER
According to the National Family Support Network developed this continuum to illustrate the six phases of developing a new Family Resource Center. Click here to download the full continuum.
Alaska Family Resource Centers: Current + Interested Entities
SCHOOL-BASED
- Anchorage School District
- Juneau School District
COMMUNITY-BASED
- Alaska Family Services (Anchorage, Mat-Su, Kenai, and Homer)
- Alaska Behavioral Health (Anchorage and Fairbanks)
- Alaska Youth and Family Network (Anchorage and Mat-Su)
- Beacon Hill (Anchorage and Mat-Su)
- Chugachmiut (Chugach Region)
- Juneau Youth Services (Juneau)
- Knik Tribe (Mat-Su)
- Resource Center for Parents and Children (Fairbanks)
- Southcentral Alliance for Family Resilience (Southcentral Region)
- Southeast Alaska Association for the Education of Young Children (Juneau)
- Volunteers of America Alaska (Statewide)
- The Study Soldotna
DEVELOPING A NEW FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER
Do you know of an entity, program, or organization that might be defined by the description below? If so, please refer them to the Alaska Family Resource Center Network by contacting Abby Struffert.
The National Family Support Network, a Family Resource Center (FRC) is a community or school-based welcoming hub of support, services, social connections, and opportunities for families that enhances their ability to be strong, healthy, and successful. FRCs work with an approach that it multi-generational, strengths-based, and family-centered. The services and programs they provide reflect and are responsive to community needs and interests, are designed for all families, and are provided at no or low cost for participants.
To assess whether and entity in AK is already serving as an FRC, please complete the Landscape Assessment tool HERE, and return it to Abby Struffert.
Family Resource Centers (Nationally)
To learn more about Family Resource Centers across the nation, check out the national snapshots document HERE
Growth
- Recurring networking + idea-sharing calls
- Support from other FRC leaders across the state
- Standardized + best practice tools and resources available and provided
- Statewide database for a statewide data capture and standarized assessment process
- Marketing support
- Job hiring support - standardized job descriptions available
Impact
- Funding opporutniites
- Leveraging and braiding funds
- Unifying funding requests at the legislative level
Education + Training
- Standards of Quality Training
- NFSN webinar opportunities
- Evaluation and assessment support
- EBI programming implementation and evaluation support