About the Family Resource Network

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS:
PARTNERING WITH PARENTS AND FAMILIES TO HELP CHILDREN LEARN, GROW AND THRIVE

Parents and families are a child’s first and best teachers. That’s why the family resource centers in the First Things First Family Resource Network give parents and caregivers the tools they need to support the learning and healthy development of their young children.

Learn how to help your child build language and reading skills. Support your family’s health and nutrition. Get referrals to connect you with community resources. All of these services and more are available for all families at a single location – at a family resource center near you. Our programs are available at no cost or low cost, and child care is often provided while you take classes or get help from our welcoming and informed staff.

WHY YOUR CHILD’S EARLY YEARS ARE SO IMPORTANT

About 90% of a child’s brain develops by age 5. Positive, nurturing experiences in a child’s early years lay the foundation for a lifetime. That’s why the job of helping kids succeed – in school and in life – starts the day they’re born.

All children need the opportunity to reach their full potential. Critical skills, like motivation, self-discipline, focus and self-esteem, begin to take root from birth to 5 years old. Successful people share these traits, and children need the tools to develop these essential skills.

Strong families are the building blocks of a strong society. It’s crucial that parents have the tools they need to support young children with stable, nurturing environments in their earliest years.

To learn more about the importance of early childhood, visit FirstThingsFirst.org.