La Plata Family Centers Coalition

THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS: THROUGH EDUCATION, RESOURCE NETWORKING AND POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, WE FORM RESPECTFUL, PRODUCTIVE FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS THAT CREATE THRIVING, EMPOWERED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SELF-RELIANT AND WHO ENVISION A HOPEFUL FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.

INCLUDED IN THE FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICE PROGRAM ARE FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, COLORADO COMMUNITY RESPONSE, COLORADO FATHERHOOD PROGRAM, & PARENT LEADER NETWORK.FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES-FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICE PROGRAM IS A COMPREHENSIVE COORDINATED CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM WHERE FAMILY ADVOCATES PARTNER WITH FAMILIES TO SET SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ACHIEVABLE, REALISTIC, TIME BASED (SMART) GOALS, ADDRESS IMMEDIATE CRISIS SITUATIONS, OFFER FINANCIAL COACHING, PARENTING EDUCATION, RESOURCE AND REFERRAL, AND EMPOWER FAMILIES TO WORK TOWARDS SELF-RELIANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY. THE OVERALL FRAMEWORK FOLLOWS THE FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES FRAMEWORK WHICH INCORPORATES CASE MANAGEMENT, FAMILY DEVELOPMENT, PROTECTIVE FACTORS, AND STRENGTHENING FAMILIES. COLORADO COMMUNITY RESPONSE-COLORADO COMMUNITY RESPONSE PROGRAM IS OFFERED IN ARCHULETA, SAN JUAN, AND LA PLATA COUNTIES TO DELIVER BRIEF INTERVENTION SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES AND CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN SCREENED OUT AND REFERRED BY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FROM CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REFERRALS. SERVICES INCLUDE GOAL SETTING, FINANCIAL COACHING, FLEX FUNDING TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATE NEED AS WELL AS REFERRALS TO RESOURCES AND OTHER LOCAL SERVICES TO PREVENT AND REDUCE CHILD MALTREATMENT. COLORADO FATHERHOOD PROGRAM-THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR OF A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD TO FACILITATE CFP, A NEW FAMILY-CENTERED COMPREHENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. IT PROVIDES CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AND SUPPORT IN THE AREAS OF HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, RESPONSIBLE PARENTING, ECONOMIC STABILITY AND BUILDING SOCIAL CAPITAL FOR ALL FATHERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE THE FATHERHOOD PROGRAM IS DELIVERED. TARGETED OUTREACH INCLUDES FATHERS (BIOLOGICAL, EXPECTANT, ADOPTIVE, STEPFATHERS, FOSTER, KINSHIP, AND GRANDFATHERS) OVER 18 YEARS, WITH CHILDREN OR CARING FOR CHILDREN UP TO AGE 24 YEARS. THIS PROGRAM IS EXPECTED TO SERVE A MINIMUM OF 35 FATHERS.PARENT LEADER NETWORK-THE LA PLATA FAMILY CENTERS COALITION RESPONDED QUICKLY TO THE INCREASED NEED FOR BASIC HUMAN SERVICES AND CONCRETE SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK IN SOUTHWEST RURAL COLORADO. LPFCC ACTIVATED ITS PARENT LEADER NETWORK TO AUGMENT SERVICE PROVISION IN A TIMELY MANNER. THIS NETWORK REPRESENTS THE FABRIC OF OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES AND IS ABLE TO ACT AS CULTURAL BROKERS, WHICH TRANSLATES INTO EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY. PARENT LEADERS OFFER GROUND TRUTH INSIGHT INTO A LARGE FRACTION OF OUR LA PLATA COUNTY COMMUNITIES. LPFCC WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE FOOD SECURITY TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS FOLLOWING THE STAY-AT-HOME ORDERS AND AFTERWARD, SPECIFICALLY THOSE WHO HAD A COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEM OR WERE UNDER SELF-QUARANTINE. AS A RESULT, LPFCC COORDINATED FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND CONCRETE RESOURCES THROUGH ITS PARENT LEADER NETWORK TO 4 MOBILE HOME TRAILER PARKS IN THE DURANGO AREA, 25 FAMILIES AT FORT LEWIS MESA AND 20 MORE AT SUNNYSIDE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ARE VERY RURAL AREAS IN LA PLATA COUNTY. FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND BASIC NEED ASSISTANCE SUPPORTED 130 FAMILIES WITH OVER 400 READY MEALS AND FOOD BOXES ON A WEEKLY BASIS.IN ADDITION, LPFCC PARTNERED WITH LOCAL GROWERS, FARMERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO SECURE MORE FRESH PRODUCE AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOOD SUPPLIES. AS A COMMUNITY-INITIATED RESPONSE TO COVID-19, LPFCC HAS MAINTAINED AND DEVELOPED FURTHER THE PARENT LEADER NETWORK TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN NUMBER OF REQUESTS FOR BASIC NEEDS IN SOUTHWEST COLORADO. THIS HAS PROVEN EFFECTIVE TO ENHANCE SERVICE PROVISION AND TO ADVANCE LPFCC EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION WORK.

COMMUNITY LED RESPONSE INITIATIVE:TOGETHER WE GROW/JUNTOS CRECEMOSAS THE RESULT OF A PARTICIPATORY PROCESS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS, LPFCCS STAFF, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXPERTS, TOGETHER WE GROW/JUNTOS CRECEMOS WAS CREATED AS A NEW TO PUT TO WORK EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO BUILD A LOCAL, SUSTAINABLE FOOD ECONOMY, GROW ECONOMIC STABILITY AND ENCOURAGE PRIDE IN MULTIGENERATIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE, THANKS TO A GRANT FROM THE COLORADO HEALTH FOUNDATION. LPFCC HAS SUCCESSFULLY IMPLANTED YEAR ONE OF THIS AND IS READY TO CONTINUE NUTRITIOUS FOOD PRODUCTION THROUGH THIS GRANT. KEY PARENT-LEADERS FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN CENTRAL IN DEFINING COMMUNITY SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS PROJECT HAVE UP TO TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE GIVING GARDEN INITIATIVE, GROWING IN SEASON, POST-HARVEST VEGETABLE, DISTRIBUTION, TRACKING AND IN ORGANIZING SUSTAINED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. WE ARE ALSO SUPPORTED BY A LOCAL FARMER-ADVISOR WITH SUCCESSFUL, DIVERSE, VEGETABLE PRODUCTION. ACTIVITIES WILL BE CONDUCTED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OVERSEEN AND SUPPORTED BEHIND THE SCENES BY LPFC AND PROJECT VOLUNTEER STAFF IN A MANNER THAT UPHOLDS THE EXPERTISE AND POWER OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS. PROGRESS WILL BE OVERSEEN BY THE LPFCC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.THROUGH THE MEMBERSHIP WITH THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER ASSOCIATION, LA PLATA FAMILY CENTERS COALITION HAS OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN EXISTING PROGRAMS. THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER ASSOCIATIONS FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES FRAMEWORK USED BY LPFCC OUTLINES THREE DISTINCT PATHS OF SUPPORT AND ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENTS AND DATA TRACKING. THIS FRAMEWORK INCLUDES THE COLORADO FAMILY SUPPORT ASSESSMENT 2.0 (CFSA2) AND ENSURES BEST PRACTICES ARE CONSISTENTLY FOLLOWED THROUGHOUT SERVICE DELIVERY. LPFCC ALSO UTILIZES THE QUALITY STANDARDS FOR FAMILY STRENGTHENING & SUPPORT, ISSUED BY THE CALIFORNIA NETWORK OF FAMILY STRENGTHENING NETWORKS AND ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL NETWORK OF FAMILY SUPPORT AND STRENGTHENING NETWORKS, AS A TOOL FOR ENSURING THAT FAMILIES ARE SUPPORTED AND STRENGTHENED THROUGH QUALITY PRACTICE. THESE STANDARDS INTEGRATE AND OPERATIONALIZE THE PRINCIPLES OF FAMILY SUPPORT PRACTICE WITH THE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES APPROACH AND ITS RESEARCH-BASED, EVIDENCE-INFORMED 5 PROTECTIVE IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING TRAINING AND SUPPORT, THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER ASSOCIATION ACTS AS A PASS THROUGH FOR FUNDING FROM OTHER FOUNDATIONS SUCH AS DELTA DENTAL AND THE WOLF FOUNDATION.

THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM OFFERS THE PARENTS AS TEACHERS (PAT) HOME VISITATION PROGRAM TO FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN INCLUDING FREE HEARING, VISION, AND DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS, AND PARENTING EDUCATION THROUGH NON-VIOLENT COMMUNICATION WORKSHOPS, SKILL BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES AND FINANCIAL HEALTH LITERACY. SOCIAL CONNECTION OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE GROUP CONNECTIONS, HOLLY JOLLY TOY DRIVE, BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR, PUMPKIN PATCH, THANKSGIVING EVENT AND ONGOING GARDENING AND FARMING PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE SPRING AND SUMMER.THE PARENTS AS TEACHERS (PAT) HOME VISITATION PROGRAM HAS SUCCESSFULLY INCREASED PARENTAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY, AND SCHOOL READINESS. BY ACCESSING NEW COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AGENCIES AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, PARENTS AND CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO GATHER, CREATE, LEARN AND EXPLORE TOGETHER.WE ARE EXCITED TO REPORT THAT LPFCCS PAT PROGRAM HAS MET AND EXCEEDED ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING VISIT FREQUENCY. WE WERE RECOGNIZED AS A BLUE-RIBBON AFFILIATE BY THE PARENTS AS TEACHERS NATIONAL OFFICE. THIS AFFIRMS THAT LPFCC IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER IN THE HOME VISITATION AND PARENT EDUCATION FIELD AND IS AMONG THE VERY TOP PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTING THE EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTS AS TEACHERS MODEL WITH FIDELITY AND QUALITY.