First Start Partnerships for Children and Families is participating in A Community Thrives, a program that supports community improvement ideas with grants up to $100K . To qualify for a grant, First Start Partnerships for Children and Families needs to meet a fundraising goal.

You can help us raise awareness and funds for The Family Center by sharing this post and making a donation between now and October 16. Donations can be made at https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/story/Thefamilycenter

First Start Partnerships for Children and Families, in collaboration with the Hope from the Start task force, has a vision for thriving families and a stronger community. We are creating The Family Center to be a gathering place for all Franklin County families with children, prenatal to age 8. Families with young children need local, supportive, positive, healthy relationships. They need to know they are not alone in the difficult job of raising children. They need to understand the normalcy of stress and trauma, and strategies for building resilience in themselves and their children.

In Fall 2020, First Start Partnerships for Children and Families will launch a virtual Family Center in both English and Spanish. The Family Center will use family-preferred virtual and social media platforms to:
• Engage families through music and the arts
• Connect families with their children and build resilience through family education curriculum.
• Educate families on the importance of high quality early childhood education options
• Educate families about the many resources available about child development
• Provide a platform for families to engage with one another about the joys and challenges of raising children who are healthy, safe, and eager to learn children, as well as and the resources available to families in Franklin County.
• Connect families to community resources for safety, health, mental health, and economic stability.

In Spring 2021, with your help we will launch The Family Center brick and mortar facilities in Chambersburg and Waynesboro.