Just as each child is unique, so are families. Whether your family is in crisis or just eager to become more self-sufficient, our Family Center is the right place to start! Our "New Way of Doing Business" is by helping families help themselves and receive the resources they need to be strong.

We have a great Resource Library for parents and children. We also know that a healthy family finds time to play together! That's why we plan Family Fun Activities - exciting Summer Picnics, Cruises, Holiday Celebrations, Zoo Days and Horesback Riding Outings. Take a look at our calendar for upcoming events, or call us.

Parents are their child's first and most important teachers! Many times parents need extra information and support regarding child development - our staff is skilled in providing stimulating development activities, assessing their development and accessing early intervention services if they are needed - all in the comfort of your own home.

Project EXPLORE is an afterschool enrichment program. It is designed to include Erie's school-aged youth and their families to participate in after-school, weekend, and summer programs to provide academic, life skills, and recreational learning opportunities.

Through these programs, students will be introduced to a variety of activities to aid in their success in the areas of reading, writing,listening, speaking, environment and ecology, math, science and technology, and community building through social skills development.

The Parent Child Home Program is a research-based parenting and early literacy program designed to strengthen verbal and educational interaction between parents and their children, thus strengthening the parent-child bond. These results are achieved through sending a Home Visitor to the homes of identified families to model educational play and effective verbal interaction for one half hour, twice weekly using carefully selected books and toys, which the family is able to keep.

Our childcare rooms are full of toys that need played with during the day! Bring the kids and have the chance to see grown-ups. Staff supervision is not available, but we'll put the coffee pot on to serve parents who would like to bring their children to the playgroup.

WIC Clinics - (by Erie County) and Free Immunizations (by the Erie County Health Department) are offered at the Family Center monthly.

The Motherhood Support Initiative increases the awareness of the importance of mothers in the life of their children, encourages and establishes parental responsibility, and assists women to improve family management and parenting skills.

Seminars offered in Spanish to educate parents about current topics and healthy lifestyle choices.

Various sessions designed to provide knowledge about important topics such as legal, child abuse and drug/alcohol issues.

Giving moms a break is what this program is about! Wholesome, enriching activities are planned to allow "time out" from children and to promote positive maternal growth - as individuals and as women.

The Parent Advisory Council is made up of parents who eagerly develop Family Fun Activities and join in supporting parent-driven services at our Family Center and throughout the state. All Parents are welcome to join in!

The Fatherhood Initiatives at the Family Center offer a range of programs for fathers that are designed and dedicated to support, counsel, educate, advocate, and challenge fathers to become a strong, positive force within their families:

• Foundations of Fatherhood, offered at several community locations each week, is a character-based educational support group for men.
• Dr. Dads teaches parents how to react to the cuts and scrapes, bumps and bruises, fevers and tummy-aches, colds, and other medical misfortunes that may happen.
• Fatherhood 101 educates teen fathers on issues related to responsible parenting of young children.

Educates teen dads on their responsibility as Fathers, encourages young fathers to continue their education and aims to reduce incidence of secondary teen pregnancy.