Skip to main content
Find a location Search Help

Community-Based Work

Family Resource Centers

Family Resource Centers (FRCs) are welcoming community hubs that offer a variety of services and support aimed at strengthening families. These activities and programs are typically available to participants at little or no cost. The centers develop both informal and formal support systems that are tailored to meet the specific needs, cultures and interests of the communities and populations they serve. FRCs also are equipped to support multigenerational families. By providing a range of services with a focus on prevention, FRCs aim to improve the well-being and outcomes of children and families.

  1. Use a set of standards such as the Standards of Quality
  2. Provide services that are strengths-based, culturally sensitive and linguistically competent
  3. Prevention-focused and aims to improve parents’ protective factors
  4. Coordinate and refer to a multitude of services to serve as a link between families and services and sustain strong partnerships with various other community-based providers
  5. Develop and support parent leadership to support advocacy efforts and family and community resilience
  6. Have a diverse, high-quality, and well-trained staff
  1. Direct support from a Family Support Provider that customizes services for children and families to establish goals, provide resource connections and strengthen overall family well-being
  2. Comprehensive case management, therapy, assessments, crisis intervention, and ongoing support
  3. Concrete supports such as housing, benefits, education, employment, food, clothing, child care, health care and transportation
  4. Parenting education, support group and home visitation services
  5. Formal services, including early care and education services, screening for developmental delays and disabilities, playgroups and after-school programs

An overview of what is currently known about the impact and effectiveness of Family Resource Centers, with a particular focus on FRCs’ ability to strengthen protective factors and reduce the risk of child maltreatment and entry into care. Results include: 

  • 45% reduction in cases of child abuse and neglect in Alachua County, Fl.
  • Statistically significant gains in family self-sufficiency in Colorado
  • 20% increase in parents’ self-reports on their ability to keep the children in their care safe from abuse in Massachusetts
  • 25% increase in the probability that a family reduced its risk of abuse with the addition of one additional differential response case management visit per week at an FRC in San Francisco
  • Limited numbers of rigorous research studies have been conducted regarding the effectiveness of FRCs. Given the sheer volume of families that FRCs engage with and the ability of FRCs to meet families where they are, provide wraparound services, and adapt to the needs of communities, additional research on the utility of FRCs and their ability to prevent maltreatment is warranted
  • In Alabama, an analysis of short- and long-term impacts shows that for every $1 invested in the Alabama Network of Family Resource Centers, the State of Alabama receives $4.70 of immediate and long-term financial benefits. 
  • In Vermont, it was determined that through services to prevent adverse childhood experiences, the Vermont Parent Child Center Network saved the state $210,000 (in 2010 dollars) per family that would have otherwise been spent on addressing the effects of child abuse and neglect, including “$33,000 in childhood health care costs, $11,000 in adult medical costs, $144,000 in productivity losses, $8,000 in child welfare costs, $7,000 in criminal costs, and $8,000 in special education costs.” 
  • FRCs in San Francisco calculated an estimated economic burden of child maltreatment of $456,033 per victim in San Francisco County in 2018. The analysis indicates that the financial impact of child maltreatment in San Francisco in 2018 was enough money to send 23,000 children to preschool.
  1. https://www.casey.org/family-resource-centers/ Community Services Analysis Company LLC. (2014). Alabama Network of Family Resource Centers: Social Return on Investment Analysis. Retrieved from http://csaco.org/files/103503730.pdf 
  2. Safe and Sound. (2018a). The Economics of Child Abuse: A Study of San Francisco: Infographic. Retrieved https://safeandsound.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/SS_EconomicsOfAbuse_Summary_SF.pdf. Safe and Sound. (2019). 
  3. The Economics of Child Abuse: A Study of San Francisco. Retrieved from https://safeandsound.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Safe-Sound2019-CA-Report.pdf HR 253, Family First Prevention Services Act of 2017, at https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/253

 

CBCAP Special Projects and Initiatives

Special projects and initiatives that CBCAP has funded in full or in part include:

Concrete supports in times of need is one of the five protective factors that many of our programs and services are built upon. CBCAP has a long-standing history of providing concrete supports for families who utilize services and programs across the state. Some examples of concrete supports include but are not limited to: Diaper, wet wipes, child safety equipment, educational items for children, cleaning supplies for the home, toiletry items, hot spots, housing assistance, health care and clothing.

The Oklahoma Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program funded diaper banks with American Rescue Plan funding. As that funding ended, CBCAP was able to pick the funding up where MIECHV left off which allowed the supported diaper banks throughout the state to continue to receive support. Diaper banks in Oklahoma supported through this funding include: Infant Crisis Services, Inc. in Oklahoma City and Emergency Infant Services in Tulsa.  

As part of the Oklahoma State Obesity Prevention Plan, CBCAP funded the provision of physical activity equipment for families participating in home visitation programs. This initiative directly supports the plan’s goal to promote healthy weight and behaviors among preschool-aged children by tailoring messaging to their caregivers. By equipping families with tools to encourage physical activity, the program aims to increase the number of families setting and achieving physical activity goals, fostering healthier lifestyles through the support of home visitation services.

ROAR is the Care Center’s child-focused education program designed to empower children ages four through eight with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves from abuse. CBCAP has collaborated with the Care Center to extend this training to Parents as Teachers (PAT) affiliates statewide. Most recently, CBCAP provided additional training to affiliates serving Cherokee, Hughes and Seminole counties, expanding the reach of this vital prevention program.

This training model creates a welcoming and supportive environment where parents and caregivers can connect with one another. Facilitated by trained professionals but led by parents and caregivers themselves, it provides a space for those in parenting roles to openly discuss the successes and challenges of raising children. It’s a community-focused setting where participants can find and share support, fostering mutual learning and encouragement. CBCAP helps to ensure that Circle of Parents is offered on at least a quarterly basis. 

The nationally-adopted Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support serve as a comprehensive tool for planning, delivering, and evaluating high-quality practices. Designed for use by a wide range of stakeholders—including public departments, foundations, networks, community-based organizations, and families—the Standards establish a common language across diverse programs, such as Family Resource Centers, home visiting initiatives, and child development programs. 

Since 2018, CBCAP has actively supported the implementation of Standards of Quality training in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Family Support Network currently has four certified trainers who have conducted 16 trainings, equipping 306 service providers and parent leaders statewide with the knowledge and skills to enhance family support services.

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Prevention Workgroup: OUHSC

CBCAP collaborates with the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) to develop, implement, and evaluate services aimed at preventing child sexual abuse, including efforts to prevent youth from engaging in harmful behaviors toward other children.  

The National Center on the Sexual Behavior of Youth (NCSBY), part of the Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (CCAN) within OUHSC's Department of Pediatrics, is a key partner in this initiative due to their expertise and mission alignment.  

This collaboration supports the goals of CBCAP and the Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Workgroup by:

  • Identifying targeted training needs in various areas of the state
  • Developing sample policies for youth service agencies
  • Implementing evidence-supported programs in under-resourced regions

The Oklahoma Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Prevention Workgroup brings together professionals from state and nonprofit agencies dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse, addressing problematic sexual behavior in children, and promoting healthy relationships among youth.

The workgroup includes representatives from: 

  • Children’s advocacy centers
  • Child sexual abuse treatment centers with a focus on prevention
  • Oklahoma State Department of Health
  • Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
  • Oklahoma Human Services
  • Oklahoma Department of Education 
  • Other agencies addressing child sexual abuse prevention and youth relationship education  

Additionally, the workgroup benefits from representation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation, enhancing its capacity to align with national strategies and resources for effective prevention efforts.  

The Oklahoma CSA Prevention Workgroup has successfully planned and implemented a range of streamlined initiatives, showcasing its commitment to creating safer communities. These efforts focus on enhancing education, expanding resources, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to prevent child sexual abuse and promote healthy relationships statewide.

The Oklahoma CSA Prevention Workgroup is focused on achieving the following objectives:

  • Conducting an updated survey of child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention resources statewide and updating the CSA Oklahoma Resource Directory
  • Revising the content and format of the CSA Prevention Resource Directory to improve usability
  • Using survey results and feedback from school personnel focus groups to create a comprehensive toolkit addressing resource and education gaps
  • Sharing insights from school focus groups with relevant stakeholders
  • Reviewing literature on innovative and effective CSA prevention resources
  • Promoting the creation and distribution of additional CSA prevention and related materials

The workgroup has recently engaged in the following initiatives:

  • Expanded the CSA Prevention Resource Directory by gathering additional data from agencies
  • Collaborated on strategies to distribute information about CSA prevention in Oklahoma
  • Delivered multidisciplinary team panel presentations at professional conferences
  • Conducted summary presentations and outreach activities targeting state agencies, schools, and other entities
  • Undertook various outreach efforts to support schools and other organizations in CSA prevention
  • Partnered on initiatives such as the Oklahoma Prevention Education Network (OPEN) Toolkit to enhance statewide prevention education.

Resources 

Parent Voice / Lived Expertise: Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth (OCCY)

OCCY aims to improve services for children and families by facilitating joint planning and coordination between public and private agencies. It ensures independent monitoring of the children and youth service system to guarantee compliance with established responsibilities. OCCY also enters into agreements to test models and demonstration programs to identify effective service strategies. Additionally, the commission provides ongoing professional education and training to enhance services for children and youth, ensuring continuous improvement in the care and support provided. Together, CBCAP and OCCY are committed to providing comprehensive services that support the well-being of children and their families across the state.

CBCAP and OCCY have strategically partnered to advance key areas of programming, working together to strengthen resources and support for families across Oklahoma. Through this partnership, CBCAP supports a range of initiatives designed to improve services and outcomes for children and families. The work with OCCY directly lends itself to supporting CBCAP identified special populations. The programming that CBCAP supports through its collaboration with OCCY includes:

OCCY Parent Partnership Board (PPB)

The PPB serves in an advisory capacity to the commission, commission staff, and, upon request, other child-serving agencies. The PPB consists of parents who have direct knowledge and experience in caring for children. Through their lived experiences, PPB members provide critical perspectives to help shape policies and improve services for children and families across Oklahoma.

Membership includes, but is not limited to, parents who have children:

  • with special needs;
  • who have been impacted by Oklahoma's criminal or juvenile justice system including deprived actions;
  • who have been in the custody of, or who have received services from, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs, Oklahoma State Department of Health or other child-serving entity including nonprofits; or
  • who have received services including, but not limited to, home visiting, local county health department child guidance services, parenting support groups or education classes, TANF, SNAP, WIC, and SoonerCare. 

Parent/Caregiver Partnerships

OCCY has established and maintained valuable partnerships with national organizations such as the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance (CTFA) and the National Family Support Network (NFSN). The CTFA is renowned for its expertise in parent leadership and in the development of parent participatory boards, which are instrumental in selecting, training, and engaging board members. The NFSN is a unique national network focused on family support and Family Resource Centers, with CBCAP holding state membership. The NFSN also emphasizes parent leadership through the creation and implementation of Parent Advisory Committees (PAC). OCCY collaborates with the NFSN to host training sessions on "Developing and Sustaining Effective Parent Advisory Committees," offered at various points throughout the year. These partnerships strengthen OCCY's efforts to support and empower families across Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Parent Advisory Committee Community of Practice (OPAC CoP)

OCCY partnered with the OSDH Oklahoma Family Support Network (OFSN) launched the Oklahoma Community of Practice (CoP): Developing and Sustaining Effective Parent Advisory Committees in October 2022. The CoP cohort consists of individuals completing the OCCY-sponsored NFSN ‘Developing & Sustaining Effective Parent Advisory Committee Virtual Trainings’ and representatives from state agencies, academia and others engaged in parent partnerships and/or family engagement practices. The CoP is designed to create a space and structured opportunity for professionals to network, engage in peer learning, share resources and problem-solve together. FFY 24 CoP included topics and presenters from different national organizations such as NFSN, CTFA, and FRIENDS National Resource Center.

Strengthening Families Together Collaborative Convenings

The statewide collaborative convenings aim to engage stakeholders in the redesign of service delivery across Oklahoma with a focus on strengthening collaborations to build a robust network for child and family well-being. These convenings work to enhance support for families while honoring and preserving culture, family, and community. This collaborative effort is led by OCCY, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), and Oklahoma Human Services (OHS), bringing together key partners to ensure that services are effectively tailored to meet the diverse needs of families across the state.

Coordination of Funding & Cross Systems Coordinator

OCCY provided partial funding through CBCAP to support a full-time Cross Systems Coordinator (1.0) FTE in collaboration with the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Center of Integrative Research on Childhood Adversity (CIRCA) and Oklahoma Human Services. The Cross Systems Coordinator position is currently funded through a collaborative effort with CSAW membership which includes Oklahoma State Department of Health (CBCAP), Oklahoma Human Services, and OCCY. The Cross Systems Coordinator is responsible for CSAW’s strategic performance initiatives. Assigned responsibilities involve coordinating efforts across systems and communities, elevating awareness about preventing/mitigating trauma and building hope, building community capacity through support and resources, and identifying family and community strengths and needs.

Other significant areas

The OCCY and CBCAP partnership helps to support other areas of work that include National Parent Leadership Month recognition and Legislative Breakfast, Oklahoma Parent Leadership Awards, participation in the CAP Action Committee, the annual Fatherhood Summit, the “My Voice Matters” campaign to elevate lived experience through the Story Vine app, and a plethora of professional development options for service providers and parent leaders.

Links

Parents as Teachers

PAT provides voluntary home visitation and community-based services that teach positive parenting skills and connects families with resources that help families grow strong. Upon enrollment, trained professionals will work with the parent to help ensure families will be successful. The family will learn about parenting skills and child development. Parents as Teachers families may also be connected with needed community resources such as job training and child care.

CBCAP funds Parents as Teachers (PAT) affiliates to provide vital services in Kay, Noble, Pawnee, Osage, Hughes, and Seminole counties. Additionally, state-funded PAT affiliates, supported through the Office of Child Abuse Prevention, offer PAT services to families across Oklahoma, ensuring nearly statewide access to this evidence-based program. To find a PAT affiliate near you, contact parentPRO through the website or by calling (877) 271-7611. 

Links

Supporting Children and Families with Special Needs: Sooner SUCCESS

Sooner SUCCESS is a community-based program dedicated to supporting children with special needs, from birth to age 21. These needs may include physical, developmental, emotional or behavioral challenges, as well as those resulting from abuse or neglect.  

Families of children with special needs often face difficulties accessing resources, services or equipment and may feel uncertain about their child’s future or how to afford the necessary support. Sooner SUCCESS bridges this gap by providing vital information about each child’s condition and connecting families with community services tailored to their unique needs.

CBCAP is proud to partner with Sooner SUCCESS in advancing key areas of programming, working together to enhance resources and support for families across Oklahoma. The programming that CBCAP supports through its partnership with Sooner SUCCESS includes:

  • Sibshops: A program specifically for siblings that have a brother or sister with special needs. Currently there are over 14 active Sibshops including two unique focuses, Supporting Hispanic Siblings and the Children’s Center.
  • Respite Voucher Program: Funded by the Aging Services Division of Department of Human Services, this program allows caregivers to have a temporary break from their caregiving duties.
  • Professional Development on Supporting Parents with Disabilities: This CBCAP-funded initiative focuses on programs within the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) that directly support parents and families. The plan emphasizes staff training, sharing of information and digital tools, and providing consultations for complex cases, ensuring these programs effectively meet the diverse needs of parents and families.

Relevant programs that may address a parent’s disability include:

  • Children First (Oklahoma’s Nurse-Family Partnership)
  • Parents as Teachers providers
  • SafeCare providers
  • Behavioral Health Consultants
  • Warm Line Consultants
  • Infant Mental Health Providers
  • other Strengthening Families Providers

Links 

Contact Information

LaChez' English, CBCAP Grant Coordinator

Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Office of Child Abuse Prevention
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave, Ste. 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406
Phone: (405) 426-8401

Back to Top