Houghton

Keweenaw Family Resource Center
Prevention Area Served: Houghton/Keweenaw/Baraga Counties
Grant Period: FY20-FY23
Website: Keweenaw Family Resource Center

Address: 
850 W. Sharon Avenue
Houghton, MI 49931-1968
Phone: 906-482-9363
 

Coordinator: Iola Brubaker
Email: iolabrubaker@kfrckids.org

Project: Kewenaw Family Resource Center's (KFRC) Build UP Families! Program's purpose is to enhance existing services (home visiting, parenting education and socialization experiences) with integrated family support services. Families who are experiencing multiple risk factors including but not limited to children experiencing high ACES scores, developmental delays, and/or behavior or sensory integration issues and isolation will be targeted to receive enhanced family support through existing services. This program is designed to provide families with primary and secondary prevention programs that support the physical and social/emotional development of young children. All activities will utilize the Strengthening Families Framework and Protective Factors. Home based services will utilize the Parents as Teachers Model (PAT). Program components will include targeted parent/child group educational experiences for high risk children, parent education, open developmental playgroups, collaborative family support and universal referral and recruitment. Each year, Build UP Families! will serve 400 families. Families will receive parent education, child abuse prevention materials and a recruitment brochure. 4-6 high risk children under the age of 5 and their parents including pregnant and teen parents, will be reached through 1.5 hour, weekly or biweekly home visits. Rurally isolated families with young children will be served through 42 two hour socializations (expanded to reach into Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw counties) including 16 socializations designed for parents of infants. Additionally, collaborative parent education programming and individualized family support interventions will be provided in family friendly, safe and nurturing environments. Build UP Families! will help identify and refer children with developmental delays, and link families to Early On, parent education and support through collaborative programming. While home visits will take place in the child's home, group programming will occur at the Tree House Indoor Playground, in Baraga County and at the Horizon Alternative High School in Keweenaw County. Structured and open play experiences will implement the 5 Protective Factors. Community resources, family support and healthy activities that meet the needs of young children with a range of needs and abilities will be available during open play. This program will provide early childhood development education to parents, and help parents navigate the service delivery system through family support services to reduce unmet needs and increase resilience. High risk families will have the opportunity to increase family function as they participate in a variety of structured program expriences that enhance wellbeing. As families improve their ability to function, healthy behavior changes come naturally. By offering structured parenting and child development activities family can participate in engaging and fun activities in a welcoming setting, enabling them to learn and practice new skills. Build UP Families! will help nurture attachment, build resilence, create social connections, provide parents with education and resources, and support the social/emotional development of young children.