Drug Myths

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER

The mission of the Family Resource Centers (FRCs) is to reduce the isolation and stress of parenting a child with emotional and behavioral difficulties. We are here to guide and support families in being their child’s best advocate in getting the services they need.

What are the Family Resource Centers?

When a parent or caregiver walks into a Family Resource Center, they meet Family Advocates who also have experienced the struggle of raising a child with emotional or behavioral challenges. Family Advocates have undergone extensive training to provide a variety of services, including:

• Support groups for parents and caregivers
• Information about mental health services and other referrals
• Assistance in understanding the systems of public and private agencies, such as schools, hospitals, child welfare, mental health, and entitlements
• Parenting skills groups
• Accompanying a parent to a meeting with the Department of Education or other agencies
• Training to empower parents to advocate for their child today, and in the future
• Peer support for adolescents
• Youth groups facilitated by Youth Advocates

The goals of the NYC FRC’s are to

• provide timely access to a comprehensive range of peer-provided family support services in order to reduce stress, strengthen family relationships, and prevent out-of-home placements;
• provide information, support, skill building and advocacy so that parents and youth are empowered to make informed decisions, and advocate for their needs; and
• integrate family support services into the continuum of mental health services in NYC, through community-based partnerships.

Each peer-led FRC provides a set of peer-provided family support services that are based on System of Care principles in which services are individualized, coordinated, family-driven, youth-guided, culturally competent, and strength-based. FRC’s offer the following menu of individual and group services to families: emotional support, information, skill development, referrals, advocacy, care coordination, respite, wraparound support, and recreation. Specific services are provided based on family goals and preferences. These services are provided at no cost to parents and youth.

FRCs are freestanding programs funded through the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), that offer a range of individual and group-based services for parents and children/youth birth to 24 years old who have been identified as having emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges. Youth may or may not have a diagnosed mental health disorder.

Locations and Contact Information:

Early Intervention Information and Resources from NYS Department Of Health:

• Early Intervention Program
• The Early Intervention Program: A Parent’s Guide
• Early Intervention Steps
• NYSDOH Early Intervention Publications
• Bureau of Early Intervention Guidance Documents