Program Model

The Family Room increases both the quantity and quality of family time in the following ways:

Quantity:

• The Family Room is available for families two days per week for ten hours total at each of our program locations.
• The Family Room always provides evening times that are typically outside of child welfare’s available hours to facilitate visits. 

 Quality:

• The Family Room provides supervised family time, but more critically, the program provides birth parents with modeling, guidance, education, and encouragement as they learn to safely and lovingly parent their children.
• The Family Room provides resource (foster) families with up to 10 hours per week of consistent respite care — a primary factor in preserving children in their resource homes.
• The home-like feel of The Family Room (kitchen, couches, dining room, tables, toys, etc.) allows for family interactions that better translate to normal day-to-day family events (getting a meal on the table, helping with homework, managing a tantrum, etc.).
• All family time sessions include a full meal for every child and parent, and the parents have the opportunity to participate in the preparation of the meals to increase their nutritional and culinary repertoire.
• The Family Room’s staff and volunteers all receive background checks and training.
• The Family Room offers a loving environment where every parent and child can experience the no-strings-attached support of a faith community that can remain involved even when the child welfare case closes.