Family resource programs (FRP) are Canadian community-based organizations that intend to support families in a variety of ways through systems such as family resource centers, family places, family centers, and neighborhood houses. They can also be linked to schools, community centers, child care programs, women's centers, and native friendship centers. This includes programs such as Ontario Early Years and military-funded family centers. 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.
National Leadership
The Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs is a non-profit organization that provides resources, national leadership and consultation to families and family resource programs.
National Family Week
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 National Family 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.
Principles
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:
Family support programs are open to all families, recognizing that all families deserve support. 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. Family support programs work in partnership with families and communities to meet expressed needs. Family support programs focus on the promotion of wellness and use a prevention approach in their work. Family support programs work to increase opportunities and to strengthen individuals, families and communities. Family support programs operate from an ecological perspective that recognizes the interdependent nature of families' lives. Family support programs value and encourage mutual assistance and peer support. Family support programs affirm parenting to be a lifelong learning process. Family support programs value the voluntary nature of participation in their services. Family support programs promote relationships based on equality and respect for diversity. Family support programs advocate non-violence to ensure safety and security for all family members. Family support programs continually seek to improve their practice by reflecting on what they do and how they do it.
Key Characteristics
Family resource programs work with developmental parenting perspectives. They believe that parents can grow and develop and that the existing skills that parents have are starting points for more education. They also work with the belief that a parent's capacity is affected by their support network. A goal of family resource programs is to develop and contribute to strong networks in the community. They work in collaboration with communities to promote safe and cohesive neighbourhoods. They also require constant staff training, strong principles, and evaluation to ensure they are delivering quality programs.
History
Family resource programs grew out of a variety of movements and organizations. The settlement movement began in London, England in the 1800s with an aim to bring together people of different classes in order to form a common purpose. The first settlement house in Canada was established in 1902 and was called Evangelia. These houses could offer food, shelter and clothing as well as education provided by members who came into the community. They also provided programs for art and sport. Family resource programs also grew out of early maternal and child health programs such as the Victorian Order of Nurses. The parent education program Nobody's Perfect was established by Health Canada in 1987 and has become the model for many programs that followed.