First Step Family Support Center receives support from United Way of Clallam County through allocations from the Community Care Fund and from community donor designations. These funds will directly benefit vital programming that assists families all the way from Brinnon to Forks.
Here at First Step, we offer over 18 different programs that promote the healthy development of children and families. The Drop-In Center in Port Angeles is one very important program that is run by First Step. This Drop-in Center provides a place where parents find support, from other parents and from the staff and volunteers that run it. It is a place that families can access tangible resources that they need to provide for their families (clothing, diapers, household goods, books and food). It is a place for parents to learn about their child’s development and a place to let their children play with toys and books that expand their child’s world.
First Step also has several home visiting programs such as the Parent Child Assistance Program that works with substance abusing families and the Parents as Teachers program that provides twice a month home visiting services to higher risk low income families. This program focuses on child development, child screening, goal setting and providing referrals to other community resources. There are multiple parenting classes offered throughout the year and weekly play groups as well as a program that reaches out to very isolated families with resources that they need. First Step also provides programs that promote child safety such as the Safe Sleep program and the Car Seat Safety projects that provide safety education and resources such as safe cribs and safe car seats to families that need them. All of these programs are designed to address building protective factors into the lives of families and couldn’t be offered without valuable support and contributions from the community and United Way.
First Step is here to assist parents with information, resources and support. We encourage parents to be attentive and invest in their child’s physical, cognitive and social development. A positive and nurturing parent/child relationship is crucial to a child’s sense of wellbeing and safety and their healthy social and emotional development is key to later school readiness and success. We are here to assist parents so that their children can fully maximize their potentials. Being a parent is such important work!
~ Venita Lynn, Executive Director