Social Service - The Family Place

Mission: The Family Place supports the positive growth and development of all parents by offering services that encourage families to build upon their strengths.

The Family Place Parent Child Center serves 22 towns in Vermont as well as numerous NH towns in the Upper Valley. We are committed to promoting the healthy growth and development of families with children aged birth to five. Some of our programs now serve clients through the age of 17. We serve all families, because parenting is the most important role in the community. At the same time, we strive to ensure that our services are available to those families who face significant challenges.

We provide parent education, playgroups, parenting skills, and family support services through home-based and center-based programs. We know that the earlier we reach children and their families, the better the chances are for them to lead successful, healthy lives and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

Family Place Highlights In Fy2004 Include:

Our Child Care Subsidy Program helped finance child care for 1084 individuals from area towns.

Our Home Visiting Programs served 896 individuals over the course of the year.

We offered 4 Playgroups in area towns. A total of 694 individuals participated in and benefited from these playgroups.

Our Family Fun Events attracted 592 parents and children.

Our Parent Education Program served 490 individuals with parenting information and informational workshops.

Through the efforts of Toys for Tots and the generous donations from local organizations and individuals we were able to offer Holiday Assistance to 466 individuals.

Our on-site Child Advocacy Center has grown in both number of families served and services offered. Children up to the age of 17 are now able to access the program and we now have an on-site therapist, qualified to treat sexual abuse victims. A total of 80 children in the Upper Valley received services this year.

There were 326 documented telephone calls for information and referral service as well as numerous walk-ins looking for assistance. We also provide a comprehensive web site to assist individuals seeking information.

Our lending library, consisting of more than 475 books and videos is popular with adults and children alike.

Once again, our primary goal for the upcoming year is to strengthen and financially sustain our existing programs. As part of this effort, we are continuing to work on an earned income strategy for The Family Place.

Dianne Norton, Business Manager

The Hartford Housing Authority | Windsor County Partners | Health Care & Rehabilitation of Southern Vermont | Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) | Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA) | The Upper Valley Haven, Inc. | Women's Information Services (WISE) | The Vermont Center for Independent Living | Vermont Adult Learning | Visiting Nurse Alliance of Vermont and New Hampshire, Inc. | The Family Place | Headrest | Bugbee Senior Center | Advance Transit