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Main Family Resource Center of Carpinteria
Imagine an educational initiative that is comprehensive, holistic, intergenerational, and nurturing—one that positions children and families to succeed, regardless of challenges posed by poverty, language, or other circumstances. The Main Family Resource Center of Carpinteria is a broad-based initiative that provides a comprehensive network of community-based services and programs intended to strengthen families and support children. In doing so, the community is also strengthened.
The Main Family Resource Center of Carpinteria is a joint venture of the Carpinteria Unified School District, the James S. Bower Foundation, the Hutton Foundation, the Orfalea Family Foundation, and a “collaborative” of community non-profit agencies whose aim is to serve children and families. The collaborative was established as a result of the Carpinteria School Board’s decision in 2007 to close Main School due to declining enrollment. The vision of the collaborative is to provide Carpinteria Valley families with a central place to participate in educational and enrichment programs that strengthen the family and, ultimately, benefit the entire community.
The current participating core agencies at the Main Family Resource Center of Carpinteria include:
Community Action Commission Head Start Preschool
Carpinteria Education Foundation
Child Abuse Listening and Mediation (CALM)
Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (CADA)
Diabetes Resource Center
Family Service Agency
Santa Barbara County Office of Education Health Linkages Program
Santa Barbara County Public Health Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program.
The Main Family Resource Center of Carpinteria is based on a cutting-edge, integrated service delivery model that utilizes research-based practices to provide coordinated services. Research shows that there is a direct correlation between a child’s school success and utilized services that meet families’ basic needs. Studies demonstrate that family literacy is linked to child literacy and that children exposed to high quality learning environments lay the foundation for school success. Moreover, studies indicate that children who have a solid foundation (social and academic) and are healthy and happy enter Kindergarten academically ready, and that readiness enables them to succeed in subsequent school years. Successful academic performance throughout the educational continuum creates opportunities for life-long success.
The services and programs being offered through the Main Family Resource Center of Carpinteria target specific family outcomes that include: Early Child Development and Education, Family Strengthening, Family Literacy, Parent Education, Wellness and Nutrition, and overall Integration of Services. Moreover, each family participates in a confidential intake appraisal, case management, and cross-agency referrals to address all focal needs. By helping families connect with community organizations and agencies, the process builds parents’ “social capital” that enables them to access the network of resources that can assist them in meeting their needs.
Through a well-coordinated and integrated service delivery approach, the Main Family Resource Center aspires to attain three overarching goals:
Children will demonstrate readiness for kindergarten.
Children will master State grade-level academic standards through grade 3.
Children will demonstrate expectations for a healthy future.
To determine the overall success of the initiative, a longitudinal research evaluation is being conducted by the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Center for School-Based Youth Development. Families participating in the comprehensive services are part of the multi-year study to determine the impact on school readiness, academic achievement, and other benchmarks. Information from the study will facilitate program improvements and guide the creation of additional programs to support Carpinteria’s children and families.
For additional information about MFRC please call the Center at (805)566-1600.
