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Family support programs are community-based organizations working with children, families and caregivers to enhance strengths, to build capacities and to promote healthy development. Link to PDF
Family support programs are know locally by many names such as family place, neighbourhood house, maison de la famille, parent-child centre or family resource program.
Family support programs deliver a range of services guided by principles that focus on building supportive relationships, facilitating growth, respecting diversity and furthering community development.
Family support programs are guided by The Guiding Principles of Family Support (PDF) that focus on building supportive relationships, facilitating growth, respecting diversity and furthering community development.
Family support programs vary depending on their size, mandate and resources. Services are flexible, accessible and offered in an informal atmosphere. These services may be provided in partnership with other groups. Family support services include:
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child development
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community development
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community outreach
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counseling and mediation
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drop-in programs
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early learning and care
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educational upgrading
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employment assistance
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family literacy
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food and nutrition support
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parent and caregiver support
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parent education
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peer contact and mutual support
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play and recreation
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promotion of health and safety
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referrals to other resources
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toy lending
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For an example of a family resource centre, click on the video on the website of the Marpole Oakridge Family Place in Vancouver, BC www.mofp.org or view the video on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stQVV4VqSjA.
In 2002, a report entitled The 2002 Status Report on Canadian Family Resource Programs was created outlining the services and supports offered by family resource programs, provincial/territorial profiles as well as current issues and trends facing the field at that time. For a current overview of the family resource sector by province/territory, please refer to the Provincial and Territorial Profiles 2009 - An Update to the 2002 Status Report on Canadian Family Resource Programs. While this entire downloadable report is only available in English, the introduction and profiles for Quebec and New Brunswick are also available in French.
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