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Mission Our mission is to strengthen children, families, and communities by offering education, resources, and support. History A 1998 assessment by the St. Croix County Department of Health and Human Services and University of Wisconsin-Extension identified a need for increased support for local families with young children, especially teen parents. In response, the Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley was formed and obtained its 501(c)(3) non-profit status in 1998. With an original name of St. Croix Family Resource Center, the organization initially served only St. Croix County before expanding services to include Pierce, St. Croix, and Polk Counties and changing its name to Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley in 2006. The organization’s main office remains on Main Street in Baldwin, but Family Resource Center group meetings and home visits occur throughout Pierce, St. Croix, and Polk Counties. Services Strong early childhood education benefits everyone—children, families, and, ultimately, the communities to which they belong. That’s why services of the Family Resource Center are free and available to any family with children from birth to the age of six. Designed to strengthen and empower parents by promoting healthy child development during the critical early childhood years, our programs promote optimal child development and positive parental relationships. Programs include hospital and home visits, screenings, play and learn groups, “Baby and Me” classes, parent education, resource networks, and a teen parent program (for specific information on each program, please see the “Services” tab). Parents as Teachers Curriculum The Family Resource Center’s programs are based on the Parents as Teachers model. Parents as Teachers is a nationally-recognized research- and evidence-based curriculum that operates with the mission to provide the information, support, and encouragement parents need to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life. More information about Parents as Teachers is available at www.parentsasteachers.org. Staff - Parent Educators Services of the Family Resource Center are delivered by parent educators, all of whom have four-year degrees in a related field. Family Resource Center parent educators undergo training to become certified in the Parents as Teachers curriculum and maintain their certifications with continuing education. Community Partnerships The Family Resource Center works with a wide range of community partners, including hospitals, libraries, schools, churches, social service agencies, and community organizations, to achieve its mission. Partners support the Family Resource Center by contributing physical space and/or staff time for Family Resource Center group meetings, collaborating with us to strengthen programming, and/or supporting us financially through contracts and donations. United Way Success by 6 Partnership The Family Resource Center works closely with United Way St. Croix Valley to provide services that promote the goals of the United Way’s Success by 6 Initiative. The vision of Success by 6 is that all children in our communities by age 6, with the strong support of family and community, will have the necessary physical, mental, emotional and social development to successfully grow and learn. By increasing services and advocating for public policies to improve children’s lives, Success by 6 raises awareness about the importance of early childhood development. More information about the Success by 6 Initiative is available at www.unitedwaystcroix.org/success_by_6.htm. Funding The Family Resource Center is an independent 501(c)(3) organization and receives no direct state or federal government funding. No fees are ever charged to families who participate in Family Resource Center programs. Operational funding for the Family Resource Center comes from a range of grants from private foundations; contracts from community partners; and donations from businesses, civic organizations, and individuals.
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