Why have so many governments around the world at the national, state/provincial, and local level chosen to invest in Family Resource Centers (FRCs)? How has this investment been proven to be an effective policy strategy for reducing child abuse and neglect? This interactive session will introduce FRC as welcoming hubs of support for families, developed in partnership with the community, and typically run by non-governmental organizations, that provide parenting support, access to resources, and build families' social connections with each other.
Independent research has shown FRCs make a significant difference in supporting families to thrive, including yielding a $4.93 social return on investment for every U.S. dollar invested, and a 63% reduction in child maltreatment cases. There are national Networks of FRCs in Australia, Canada, France, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Singapore, Sweden, and the United States, representing thousands of programs serving millions of families every year.
