Thriving Families
Sonoma CAN is committed to the Whole Family Approach because we know that when it is implemented with integrity it moves families from surviving to thriving. Each component is dependent on the other, which is why we have adopted the Family Resource Center model to provide comprehensive, neighborhood-based services.
Our families thrive when they have access to health (including mental health), education, and wellness. Our focus in providing these services is not just meeting basic needs, which is a component of Whole Family, but to understand systemic drivers of inequity that create conditions where our families don’t have access to the same food, health care, and services as other residents of the community.
The Family Resource Model
The Family Resource Model reflects the Whole Family Approach to providing integrated services. They are known by many different names across the country, including Family Centers, Family Success Centers, Family Support Centers, and Parent Child Centers. They may be community-based or school-based and serve as welcoming hubs of community services and opportunities designed to strengthen families. Their activities and programs, typically provided at no or low cost to participants, are developed to reflect and be responsive to the specific needs, cultures, and interests of the communities and populations served.
