Healthcare :: Family resource programs receive $1M funding boost, BC

As part of the ongoing effort to strengthen smaller, rural family resource programs, the Province is providing a $1-million one-time grant to the BC Association of Family Resource Programs (FRP-BC).

Children and Family Development Minister Tom Christensen and Minister of State for Child Care Linda Reid announced the funding today at the Okanagan Family Society in Kelowna, whose services include family resource programs.

?Family Resource Programs aim to support secure parent/child engagement and consistent positive parenting practices in the community,? said Christensen. ?Through enhanced education and healthy child development services, as well as improved prevention supports, the specific needs of the local community are addressed.?

Today?s announcement will:

? Enable multi-service agencies to access funds to partner with or provide service to existing isolated FRPs located within a one-hour-radius of the agency; and

? Help the sustainability of smaller FRPs, located in rural areas of the North and Interior regions and parts of Vancouver Island.

?Serving as community hubs, family resource programs provide services that help families connect with other community members and parent support programs,? said Reid. ?The BC Association of Family Resource Programs does a wonderful job of supporting and raising the awareness of these regionally based programs across B.C.?

The BC Association of Family Resource Programs (FRP-BC) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising the awareness of the importance of community-based family resource programs. FRPs deliver supports to children and families through stand-alone or multi-service agencies.

?We are committed to improving practice throughout this sector through the implementation of best practices, development of post-secondary curriculum for FRP staff and the promotion of provincial standards for family resource programs,? said Marianne Drew-Pennington, executive director of the BC Association of Family Resource Programs. ?This grant will enable us to achieve our goals and increase services for smaller communities and isolated programs.?

FRPs offer programs within five core areas: family support, play-based learning, early literacy and learning, parent education, and information and referrals. The services are designed to meet the needs of parents, caregivers and their children, from birth to age six.

?In my constituency of Okanagan-Westside and across this province, family resource programs provide important local services such as parent/child interactive drop-ins, parent support groups and programs for young parents,? said Rick Thorpe, MLA for Okanagan-Westside.

?These programs provide the supports necessary to strengthen families and communities by fostering the healthy development of children within the context of the family,? said Sindi Hawkins, MLA for Kelowna-Mission.

?It is important that we partner with organizations such as the BC Association of Family Resource Programs, as they are linked to almost 200 programs that support thousands of families each year,? said Al Horning, MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country.


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