“Assessment and evaluations for developmental disabilities, many types of support groups, individualized plans – you’re saying I can find these great services for free, all in one place?”
Yes, that’s what we’re saying!
The phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child,” comes from an African proverb, reminding us that it takes many people to provide a safe, healthy environment for children to develop and flourish. In our modern societies, this includes our local community organizations and businesses! Inspired by this awareness that connected villages help children thrive, we offer this next article in our series, “Creative Collaborations.” Here we bring you useful information and imaginative approaches to leveraging local connections to support young children and families in your early learning programs!
In this article, we dig into the life-changing services of family resource centers in LA County and how our early learning programs can partner with them to support families!
Getting to Know Family Resource Centers
Let’s kick things off by exploring what Family Resource Centers are, how they are funded, and other relevant criteria for families.
Family Resource Centers (FRC for short) work in partnership with local regional centers and educational agencies to help parents, families, and children get information about early intervention services. This includes navigating the Early Start system, as FRCs funded by Early Start tend to focus on developmental delays. For more information, check out the Early Start Neighborhood site.
- Each FRC is unique, tailoring their approach and services to their local community.
- They may be independently run or based in regional centers, local education agencies, public health facilities, or homes.
- FRCs are staffed by parents/caregivers who themselves have lived experience and provide information as well as parent-to-parent support.
Here is a brief list of services that Family Resource Centers contracted with the California Dept of Developmental Services may provide:
Family Resource Center - List of Services
| Offering | Overview |
|---|---|
| Parent Support & Navigation | • Help understanding and accessing services (early intervention, regional center, school services, health programs) • One-on-one guidance from staff or parent mentors with lived experience, including home visits • Assistance with paperwork, referrals, and understanding rights |
| Parenting Education | • Workshops, classes, and coaching on child development, behavior, routines, and communication • Learning opportunities tailored to early childhood and special needs |
| Peer-to-Peer Supports | • Support groups for parents and caregivers • Opportunities to meet other families going through similar experiences |
| Concrete Supports | • Help with basic needs (diapers, formula, clothing, hygiene items) • Connections to food, housing, utilities, transportation, and financial assistance programs |
| Early Childhood & Developmental Supports | • Developmental screenings and guidance • Information on Early Start, IEPs, developmental milestones, and disability supports • Transition support (e.g., age 3 transition from Early Start program to school district) |
| Community Resources & Referrals | • Linkages to mental health services, healthcare, childcare, early learning programs, and community activities • Warm handoffs to trusted partners |
| Culturally Responsive, Accessible Services | • Help provided in the family’s home language, as translation assistance is available! • Inclusive and welcoming spaces, in both rural and urban communities • No stigma as families can walk in without needing a referral |
What a wide variety of supports are available for us and the families we work with! Family Resource Centers are valuable hubs that our communities can tap into with the comfort of knowing how family-forward they are.
Digging Deeper into the Benefits of Family Resource Centers
Our early learning programs often connect families with community resources, whether it’s for the child or family well-being overall. With so many supports, a multitude of responsibilities, and a lack of familiarity, families may find themselves stretched thin or having difficulty selecting what supports to access. This is where research and clear information can help their decision-making process! Consider reading and sharing this infographic below with families, describing the offerings and evidence-based benefits of family resource centers:
When talking with families, we may be at a loss for what to say when trying to convey these resources. This graphic can help!
Good to Know: Hidden Gems and Creative Approaches
Now let’s consider an inside perspective from Liz Spencer, director of the Westside Family Resource and Empowerment Center in Culver City! During a phone interview, she shared some insider knowledge and experiences that helps us see the hidden gems and creative approaches that these FRCs offer for families:
Question: What services and resources do Family Resource Centers offer that many folks are often not aware of?
Liz: We of course serve folks in the westside regional area and so funds designate what’s possible. Even so, something that people often don’t know about our program: We serve all families and individuals who are eligible for regional center!
A hidden gem that comes to mind is our Family Empowerment Grant. As a baby qualifies for early start services until three years old, the Family Empowerment Grant allows for families to meet their needs for their little ones from ages 3 through transition to school.
Similarly, through the Family Empowerment Grant, we are able to serve families who don’t qualify for regional center services and may fall through the gaps.
For example: we had a family come in with a 7-year-old who has Down Syndrome. As we’re talking with them and learning about their needs and stresses, we then find out they have a 9-year-old with ADHD who has some behavioral challenges. Through the Family Empowerment Grant, we are able to support them even if they don’t qualify for the regional center – as long as they live within the catchment of the westside regional area.
| Key Idea: |
| Often folks aren’t aware that we are able to support families in managing the challenges of finding supports by taking this holistic approach – supporting families’ overall well-being! |
Another example: We had a multigenerational family come in and mom was frantic. We find out their baby qualified for services but the mom was juggling many situations in their home dynamic. It turns out that the grandmother had broken a hip and grandfather had dementia. These situations were causing lots of stress for the mom because not only was she trying to manage everything in their home but she was also worried about being able to meet their baby’s needs.
I want to highlight here – we don’t only serve the baby, we serve the family. This holistic approach is key to our program. In our perspective, a child or adult is only successful if the family is successful. That’s where we’re able to peel back the onion layers of family dynamics plus individual needs and see what additional supports we can plug in to help families.
Question: How could early learning programs support FRCs and vice versa?
We’ve partnered with Allies for Every Child, preschools, and Head Start programs. Our organization provides in-service training for them, covering aspects like “this is what our center does, this is how we can support you”. Family service programs and providers can use us as a sound board in situations where you’re not sure how to support young children and their families! We also offer presentations to parent groups and can also walk groups or individuals through the intake process, the timeline, and any information needed.
We also offer support for the transition when children are going into preschool and k-12 system and what IEPs and related plans look like. For instance: IEP 101, what are your rights and responsibilities, how can we partner with you PLUS show you many more options PLUS speak with school districts to navigate challenges/transitions/ additional needs.
Question: Do you have any tips for families and early learning programs in finding and reaching out to their local FRC?
Two websites that are awesome resource supports for LA county:
- Seeds of Partnership – They are a provider liaison to the California Department of Education. They have phenomenal breadth of info that’s parent friendly. You can plug in your zip and it’ll tell you who to call – of the 21 regional centers in CA, 7 in California. The website tells you exactly where to go!
- Family Resource Centers Network of California (FRCNCA) – has a similar site that will show you more available connections. Their mission is to support families of children with disabilities, special healthcare needs, and those at risk by ensuring the continuance, expansion, promotion and quality of family-centered, parent-directed, family resource centers.
A closing message from Liz: “Please remember – we meet you where you are! On the phone, in person, online – all options work. We’ll even meet you in the community!”
A well-informed family is a less fearful family, a less angry family, a less frustrated family. They are a stronger, more unified family. When families are informed of what’s available to them that can help them meet their children’s needs can help them raise children who are stronger and better self-advocates, as shared in research from the Beach Center on Disability from Kansas University.
CA has the most robust systems of care and no common door; with multiple doors but information not being shared as widely to all families about what’s available. There is nothing worse than finding a program that exists and you didn’t know it was there!
We don’t know what we don’t know. All of us in the ECE and family services world are here to be guides on the side! Most of us have lived experience as parents, grandparents, etc. and it doesn’t mean we are experts or clinicians, but we understand the frustration of seeking support and wanting to know what to do for your child.
QSLA Connections: Explore our related Family Engagement Tips on other creative collaboration opportunies and body-based ways to support families around these matters!
QSLA Connections: Explore our related Family Engagement Tips on other creative collaboration opportunies and body-based ways to support families around these matters!Resources
Now that we’ve covered all this information, research, and context within ECE, check out these resources to equip your toolkit with these FRC resources to support children and adults!
- Family Resource Centers Network – Flyer for LA County
- Family Resources Centers Network of California – Directory
- Family Resource Centers – Regional Center Lookup Tool
- Creative Collaborations – Overview of Family Resource Centers Graphic
References:
Akey, T.M., Marquis, J.G. ,Ross, M.E.(2000). Validation of scores on the psychological empowerment scale: A measure of empowerment for parents of children with a disability. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 60(3), 419-438.
Berger, L. M., & Font, S. A. (2015). The Role of the Family and Family-Centered Programs and Policies. The Future of children, 25(1), 155–176.
California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse. (2019). Resources New › Tools And Handouts › Family Resource Centers. California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse. https://www.cebc4cw.org/resources-new/tools-and-handouts/family-resource-centers/
National Family Support Network. (2025). NFSN | Family Support Program. National Family Support Network. https://www.nationalfamilysupportnetwork.org/family-support-programs
OMNI Institute (2021). Return on Investment of a Family Resource Center to the Child Welfare System: Community Partnership Family Resource Center, Teller County, CO. Submitted to National Family Support Network, Washington, D.C.
Partnership for Strong Families. (2025, August). Research Outcomes – Partnership For Strong Families. Partnership for Strong Families. https://www.pfsf.org/resourcecenters/evaluationandexpansion/researchoutcomes/
Cristina Espinoza
Family Education Coordinator, Quality Start Los Angeles
Cristina has worked as a family and youth development professional for 10 years, including having served as a Peace Corps Volunteer as a youth development promoter in Costa Rica. In her role with Quality Start Los Angeles, Cristina is passionate about supporting families to feel empowered in the changing landscape of their surroundings with their children’s wellbeing at the forefront. She is a champion of strengths-based systems and services that build resilient families and youth.
