Family resource programs

Family resource programs are Canadian community-based organizations that support families in a variety of ways through systems such as family resource centres, family places, family centres, and neighbourhood houses. They can also be linked to schools, community centres, child care programs, women's centres, and native friendship centres. This includes programs such as Ontario Early Years and military-funded family centres. They are generally grassroots organizations that aim to be responsive to local issues.

Similar organizations or programs may exist in other countries under similar or different names.

The Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs (FRP Canada) is a non-profit organization that provides resources, national leadership and consultation to families and family resource programs. Their vision is "to build a Canada that cares for its children, its families and its communities."

FRP Canada takes on the responsibility of coordinating National Family Week. They work together with other national partners to produce a downloadable kit for use by families during this week each fall.

FRP Canada also maintains a directory of family resource programs across the country and has developed a national online evaluation tool for use by family resource program members. Other projects include the development of parenting resource sheets for newcomers in numerous languages as well as a parenting resource website entitled Parents Matter.

Family resource programs are based on the principles of supportive relationships, respect for diversity, growth facilitation and the importance of community-based development.

Some guiding principles of family resource programs:

1. Family support programs are open to all families, recognizing that all families deserve support.
2. Family support programs complement existing services, build networks and linkages, and advocate for policies, services and systems that support families' abilities to raise healthy children.
3. Family support programs work in partnership with families and communities to meet expressed needs.
4. Family support programs focus on the promotion of wellness and use a prevention approach in their work.
5. Family support programs work to increase opportunities and to strengthen individuals, families and communities.
6. Family support programs operate from an ecological perspective that recognizes the interdependent nature of families' lives.
7. Family support programs value and encourage mutual assistance and peer support.
8. Family support programs affirm parenting to be a lifelong learning process.
9. Family support programs value the voluntary nature of participation in their services.
10. Family support programs promote relationships based on equality and respect for diversity.
11. Family support programs advocate non-violence to ensure safety and security for all family members.
12. Family support programs continually seek to improve their practice by reflecting on what they do and how they do it.

...
Wikipedia