Horseheads Family Resource Center Inc

THE HORSEHEADS FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER (HFRC) PROVIDED COMMUNITY-BUILDING PROGRAMS FOR HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES FROM ACROSS THE AREA. ALTHOUGH WE ARE A SMALL ORGANIZATION WITH A MODEST BUDGET AND FRUGAL PRACTICES, THE IMPACT WE MAKE ON OUR COMMUNITY IS HUGE. OUR COST PER FAMILY IS REMARKABLY LOW, YET BY UTILIZING A MULTI-GENERATIONAL APPROACH IN THE ALL-IMPORTANT FORMATIVE YEARS, THE HFRC IS ABLE TO PRODUCE OUTCOMES AT A HUGE RETURN OF INVESTMENT. IN THE MOST RECENT PARENT SURVEY, FAMILIES CONTINUE TO CONFIRM THAT HFRC SUCCEEDS IN ACHIEVING ITS MISSION OF PROVIDING INCLUSIVE, STRENGTH-BASED PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES THAT INCREASE SCHOOL READINESS, SUPPORT INFORMED PARENTING, AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS. WHILE THE CENTER WAS CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, STAFF CONNECTED WITH FAMILIES THROUGH WEEKLY EMAILS AND HOME DROP-OFFS OF ACTIVITY KITS AND BOOKS. SUPERVISED VISITS WERE CONDUCTED PRIVATELY IN OUR PLAYROOM, WITH ONE FAMILY AT A TIME, ALLOWING CHILDREN TO CONTINUE TO VISIT AND PLAY WIT THEIR NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT. SINCE REOPENING IN MAY FOR OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING, FAMILIES HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN US ON WEEKLY STROLLER WALKS IN LOCAL PARKS, PLAY ON OUR PLAYGROUND, AND UTILIZE OUR OUTDOOR RIDING TOYS, ALL WHILE INTERACTING WITH OTHER FAMILIES IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. WHEN THE CENTER REOPENED INDOOR PLAY IN JUNE, FAMILIES TRANSITIONED INSIDE FOR OUR PLAYFUL LEARNING PROGRAM. THROUGH ALL OF THIS, THE CENTER STAFF HAS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE SCHOOL READINESS ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILIES, AND CONNECT FAMILIES WITH RESOURCES, SERVICES, AND EACH OTHER.