Family centre

Family centres are community resources that provide services to parents, children, and spouses.

Family centres exist to provide need-based aid to families affected by a range of events, including death, physical and mental illness, divorce, unemployment, and child abuse and child neglect. They have been created by different local government departments, or by different agencies, in order to fulfill three basic functions.

• Social Services
• Education
• Training

The Social Services initiative focuses on creating better relationships within the family, providing preventative services to children "in need" or "at risk," and providing companionship to seniors. The Education initiative focuses on improving the interaction between families and the local schools as well as providing remedial facilities to children. The Training initiative focuses on providing parenting and job training classes.

Services

A family centre may offer any or all of these services.

Families:

• Family Counseling
• Family Support Groups
• Domestic Violence Intervention
• Child Abuse or Neglect Intervention

Parents:

• Parent Education Program
• Parent Support Groups
• Young Parents Education Program and Support Groups
• Marriage Counseling

Children:

• Child Support Groups
• Preschool Programs
• Afterschool Programs
• Homework Help and Tutoring
• Child and Adolescent Therapy

Senior Citizens:

• Friendly Connections Outreach Programs
• Telephone Groups and Classes
• Friendly Caller
• Friendly Visitor

Unemployed:

• Job Counseling
• Job Training Classes
• Childcare referrals
• Elder care referrals