Towards Evaluation in the Family
Resource Centre Programme
Presented by :
Claire Dineen, Co-Chair National Forum of Family Resource Centres and
Manager of Ballymote Family Resource Centre, Sligo
Kieran McKeown. Social and Economic Research Consultant
Outline of Workshop
• Background to the Family Resource Centre Programme
• What Family Resource Centres do?
• Definition of Family Support within the FRC
programme
• Principles underpinning Family Support in the FRC
programme
• S.P.E.A.K. figures
• Opportunities and challenges
Background to the Family Resource
Centre Programme
• The first 10 FRC were set up in 1994 by the
Dept. of Social Welfare
• Endorsement of FRC Programme by the
Commission on the Family (1996-1998)
contributed to a 10 fold expansion to the
current number of 107 Family Resource
Centres.
Background cont’d
• Since 2003 FRCs have been funded through
the Family Support Agency
• In May 2010 the Family Support Agency was
brought under the remit of the new Dept. of
Children & Youth Affairs.
S.P.E.A.K. Figures
•
•
•
•
•
•
295,395 visits by individuals to FRC’s
22,000 used FRC’s for meetings
21,000 accessed formal counselling
14,263 ‘cup of tea’ counselling
752 groups accessed funding through FRC
1,700 other community groups supported to
access funding, tackle specific issues and
restructure.
• 30,000 accessed training/education
What do Family Resource Centres do?
Each FRC responds to the needs identified by its
local community, consequently this local
dimension means the range of responses will
vary from Centre to Centre.
The work of FRCs is :
• Needs led
• Has an early intervention focus
• Preventative by nature
Building
Partnerships &
Networking
Integration of
Services
Counselling
Establish
New groups
Core Functions
Of
Family Resource
Centres
(FRC)
Influencing
Policy
Provide
Information &
Resources
Childcare
Progression
Education
Training
Support
Self Development
Definition of Family Support within the
FRC Programme
• The Family Resource Centre National Forum defines
Family Support within the Programme as:
“supporting families within communities to identify their
family and local needs: to collectively develop holistic
responses and enhance participation in wider
community life”
Principles Underpinning Family
Support within FRC Programme
•
•
•
•
•
•
Participation
Equality
Awareness raising
Early intervention
Strengths based
Advocacy
Thank You