FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER ASSOCIATION INC

Programs: Capacity building and technical assistance: frca provides the necessary training, technical assistance, advocacy and data gathering and reporting for our network of member centers. Our staff has been able to provide hundreds of hours of technical assistance in the last year in the areas of finance, accounting, fund development, program implementation, organizational strengthening and board relations to strengthen our members. In the last year alone, frca has trained over 150 people in the quality standards of family support and strengthening and has refined our colorado family support assessment 2. 0 tool including a reliability study of the tool. We are now training multiple partners, including organizations outside the frca membership, across the state in the use of this tool and the quality standards. Research, evaluation and collective voice: frca is developing the first research-based, evidence-informed approach to family support work in the nation, called the family resource center model. We have made significant progress on the development, validation and documentation of our colorado family resource center model. First, was the development and implementation of a logic model and fidelity protocol for the frc model. A logic model, based on the research found during our literature review to show that our family development practice is evidence-based, has been completed. The fidelity protocol is in development with the assistance of external evaluators. This protocol is based on implementation science and incorporates all of the systems and supports needed to implement evidence- based practices with fidelity. In addition, a training schedule is being developed and should be unveiled this year. Evaluation is at the core of frca's work with our member centers and their constituent families, and is used to improve our frc model. We are committed to using the information we gather to increase the efficacy and impact of our centers and the families they serve. We utilize an organizational survey for all members to identify key areas for improvement. At the center level, evaluation of outcomes and progress is measured by participant activity and feedback obtained by participant surveys and interviews. We are especially proud that frca's manuscript entitled "reliability of the colorado family support assessment: a self-sufficiency matrix for families" has just been published in the journal research on social work practice. This is part of frca's effort to make the family resource center model way of conducting family support and two-generation work, an evidence and research-based model.

frca has been working for over 20 years to connect our network of family resource centers to the tools, technical assistance and resources needed to create and sustain strong organizations. These organizations provide a powerful safety net of community-based programs and services to underserved families in colorado. Currently frca members consist of 24 family resource centers serving over 56,000 individuals in 44 counties in colorado. These organizations provide critical services for colorado vulnerable populations through a philosophy of strengths-based family development services. Family resource centers utilize a two-generation approach, working with the entire family to become more self reliant in key areas that affect family stability, including parenting, early childhood, health, social educational and economic outcomes. Through the creation of a common agenda, practices, training and shared goals, frca is connecting our members with the training, advocacy and resources to become leaders in the family support field in colorado and the nation. One lesson learned in the past 20 years is that when you provide families with a primary point of entry for multiple services and resources, you significantly increase their chances of success in reaching their goals for economic, social, health and financial stability. True change can occur for families and our communities, making colorado a stronger place to live.