The Family Support Centers of Lutheran Community Services Northwest partner with individuals, businesses and organizations to achieve Health, Justice, and Hope for individuals and families in their communities. Our Family Support Centers offer a strength-based approach to programs and services, empowering individuals and families to increase their competency and resiliency. Our Purpose
A family support center is a warm and welcoming place in the community to which any person or family can come, not only in times of need, but as a regular part of day-to-day life. Family Support Centers offer parenting education, child development activities, parent-to-parent support groups and mentoring, parent-and-child activities, caregiver education and support, skill-building programs, community events, resource fairs and events, childcare resource and referral and information and referral services. These are modified depending on the needs and desires of local communities. Family support centers are unique in their approach to working with individuals, families and communities: they build upon strengths and capacities, serve as a hub for the community, work for positive social change, and offer help in a non-threatening environment. Community members act as resources in all sorts of capacities, from sitting on a decision-making board to helping others develop job skills, providing support to those in need to cooking food for a class or event. Our History
LCSNW Family Support Centers began with the Family Support Movement of the mid-1970s. Created to build strong communities, fill gaps in programs, services and support and, ensure underserved communities and populations have access to those services. The Family Support approach is a grassroots effort of combining knowledge of family systems, culturally appropriate services, community building and resource assistance in communities focusing on preventing crisis' and promoting healthy functioning individuals, families and communities. Our Philosophy
A set of beliefs and asset based approach to strengthening and empowering individuals, families and communities so that they can foster the optimal development of children, youth, and adult family members.to strengthening and empowering individuals, families and communities so that they can foster the optimal development of children, youth, and adult family members. Our Family Support philosophy is founded on the belief that every individual or family needs and deserves support and access to services; Family Support Centers are not just for at risk families and adults. A type of grassroots, community-based program designed to prevent problems by strengthening relationships and building upon the assets each person brings with them. Increasing social connectedness among individual's, parents and children and grandparents to decrease isolation and depression and increasing resiliency. A shift in human services delivery that encourages public and private agencies to work together and to become more preventive, responsive, flexible, family-focused, strengths-based, and holistic and thus more effective. A movement for social change that urges all of us – policymakers, program providers, parents, employers to takes responsibility for improving the lives of children and families, individuals and community's. The family support movement transforms our society into caring communities of citizens putting each other first and that ensures that all children, families and adults get what they need to succeed.
