"The FRC Was selected a 'BEST Practice' Site by North Carolina Smart Start in 2000" The Chatham Family Resource Center was created from a broad-based initiative by Chatham County Health Department and Community Action agency in 1994 in response to changes in welfare policies and large-scale immigration to Chatham County and Siler City.
The FRC served as a model of local Volunteer coordination with church, industry, non profits, families, government and schools. We were a low cost facility in which local agencies and nonprofit organizations can operate ( e.g. health department, Smart Start, Red Cross, Girl Scouts, NA, etc.) In addition, we also became a facility in which Federal resources can be put to use (e.g. Homeland Security, Corporation for National and Community Service, Head Start, etc.)
Residents quickly came to see the Family Resource Center or "Recursos Familiares" as a one-stop walk-in resource, referral and information center and meeting place. Local employers and groups were able to take advantage of a fully functional high-visibility site for local education/training activities that included 3 child care centers, kitchen, 4 classrooms, 9 offices, meeting hall, parking, and playground. In 2009, Chapel Hill Training and Outreach/KidScope began subleasing approximately 6,000 sq. ft. of space for its Early Head Start and Chatham Child Development Center (CCDC). This partnership was brought about in large part due to losing its longterm space in a County School owned building. While allowing the FRC to streamline costs, this valuable cooperation has also allowed the FRC to work closely in providing referrals for childcare as well as services to these parents.
University students were able to use the facility for community study and serving internships in Chatham County due to our much needed comprehensive Latino services and orientation center (services in health, housing, child care, education).
Just as all changes, the Chatham FRC continues to study and implement cutting edge programs that ensure a safer, more productive community for its residents. Through the programs such as Chatham Citizen Corps Council and the Chatham Medical Reserve Corps, the FRC has been able to bring programs to area residents that cover such emerging issues as home fire safety and preparedness, family planning education, gang violence and prevention and many more.
In its history, the FRC has provided direct services to families in need, regardless of race, culture or socio/economic status and provided a mechanism where agencies were able to collaborate in the provision of services and influence the services delivery to strengthen families towards self-sufficiency, health and safety. In addition, the FRC was also able to accomplish the following: Include the community in planning and conducting activities that strengthen local resilience to manmade or natural disaster through volunteer-based Homeland Security Programs. More about these programs can be found at www.chatham-citizencorps.org.
Provide interpreters and lay health advisors to community to improve access to health and human services, while working with local industry in assessing need and designing human services provisions that benefited families and children.
Serve as a center where diverse cultures could communicate through service to community, enhance the Latino Center operations to include education and outreach on issues of health, safety and responsibility of citizenship.
Develop funding strategy that includes a fair and responsible mix of public and private monies. Bring resources to Chatham County.
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