“Family Support plays an enormously important and positive role in the lives of the families. Its comprehensive goals and flexible execution enables continuous and responsive support for the needs of the whole family. The resourceful and persevering staff can support families to grow, give back, and lay solid foundations for caring relationships to develop in the larger community.”
-Sheila Bell and Junlei Li, University of Pittsburgh
Families were interviewed about their experiences with Family Support for a 2007 study on what mattered most to them. The families frequently mentioned these aspects:
- Help accessing basic resources and human services
“They can link you to all kinds of other things (services), sometimes in the center, sometimes just down the street.”
- Social and emotional support by staff and peers
“The support you get from the staff stands out from other support systems. They are always there.”
- Social and recreational events to bring families together
“(Activities like movies, field trips, fresh air camps) allows our families to spend more quality time together as a whole.”
- Respite childcare and after-school programming
“I know the kids can come to the Center after school, get a snack to hold them over until I can get home from my job and make dinner.”
- Child development screenings
“My child was never delayed. It just felt so good to know that.”
- Home visiting programs that are flexible enough to address adult needs, adapt to crises, and promote child development
“I was having a terrible day and I just wanted to be locked in my house and really did not want a visit. When she came, she saw what was wrong and just put away her stuff and stayed with me for two hours. I felt so much better just from her listening.”
Additionally, engaged families expressed how important it was for them to give back to Family Support. They assisted new families, took part in fundraising, and served as parent leaders:
“I am a grandfather. I want to be here to help the other families, just like when I was helped when my kids were young.”
“Now I have a job, a car…I’m married and I give back by going to Community Voices and do playground safety work.”
