Early Childhood
Family Centers
Southside Family Center
Program
Description
Southside Family Center is part of the Brighter Futures Initiative
of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Southside Family Center is an educational support center for the whole family with the primary goal of improving the school readiness of the children that reside in Southwest Hartford. The program also offers services that help to strengthen family and community relationships. Parents play a major role in designing programs that reflect the needs of the community.
Services
Provided
A
flexible schedule for services is provided to accommodate both working
and at-home parents. Childcare is provided while attending classes. All of the programs, activities and services that are developed for members of the Family Center are implemented from one of the following categories:
Home Visiting
Early Childhood Parent in Partnership Program, funded by the Department of Children and Families, Nurturing Families Network, funded by the Department of Social Services, Children's Trust Fund and the Homelinks program for home daycare providers
Parenting Education and Support
Parenting education, workshops and family literacy events and activities for all families
Parent Child Interaction
Family Literacy Programming, family oriented recreational activities
Adult Education
GED classes, Financial Literacy/Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) trainings
Parent Advocacy and Leadership Development
Community Forums, Event Planning, Parent Leadership training
Quality Care and Education
Full day, full year school readiness programming for children ages 3-5
Health Services
Health & Nutritiion workshops, and dental, vision and lead screenings through partnerships with community organizations
Mental Health Services
Workshop/coffee hours concening children's behavioral health needs, best practices and effective strategies
Basic Human Needs and Social Services
Case Management services, Diaper Bank
Eligibility
While
predominately catering to families in the Southwest part of Hartford,
the Southside Family Center does not deny anyone eligibility.
