Funding Family Resource Centers: From Understanding to Action

Founded in 2011, the National Family Support Network (NFSN) is a membership-based organization comprised of state networks of two or more Family Resource Centers working together within a collective impact framework to ensure coordinated quality support for families. As the United States’ coordinating body for Family Strengthening & Support networks, the NFSN currently has 38 member networks, comprised of more than 3,000 Family Support and Strengthening organizations, representing the great geographical and demographic diversity of the nation.   The mission of the NFSN is to promote positive outcomes for all children, families, and communities by leveraging the collective impact of state networks and championing quality family support and family strengthening practices and policies.

National Family Support Network

How can Family Resource Centers move from understanding federal funding opportunities to confidently pursuing them?

<a href="https://www.nationalfamilysupportnetwork.org/family-support-programs" title="https://www.nationalfamilysupportnetwork.org/family-support-programs" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Family Resource Centers</a> are entering a new era of national recognition, alignment, and opportunity, creating unprecedented momentum to strengthen families and build sustainable community-based prevention systems. In late 2024, Congress enacted the first-ever federal statutory definition of a Family Resource Center through the Supporting America's Children and Families Act, formally recognizing the role of Family Resource Centers within federal child welfare law. In June 2026, the National Family Support Network launched the first <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-N0UjfLjbJuIDNEYmBg3MyPcAI9JBtOd6PPU1w5s0IrpLvA/viewform" title="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-N0UjfLjbJuIDNEYmBg3MyPcAI9JBtOd6PPU1w5s0IrpLvA/viewform" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">National Family Resource Center Model</a>, providing a shared framework that clearly defines what Family Resource Centers are, how they strengthen families, and why they are essential partners in building prevention-oriented systems. These milestones create an important opportunity for Family Resource Centers, <a href="https://www.nationalfamilysupportnetwork.org/family-support-networks" title="https://www.nationalfamilysupportnetwork.org/family-support-networks" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Family Resource Center Networks</a>, and their public partners to strengthen prevention systems, expand access to community-based family support, and build sustainable public funding strategies. This webinar represents the next step in that journey. Building on last year's <a href="https://youtube.com/watch?v=xUlsaElfAJc&amp;feature=youtu.be" title="https://youtube.com/watch?v=xUlsaElfAJc&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Connecting the Dots: Federal Funding Strategies for Family Resource Centers</a>, this webinar marks the national launch of four new National Family Support Network Practical Guides designed to help Family Resource Centers and Family Resource Center Networks better understand, navigate, and pursue opportunities within four major federal funding streams. Rather than focusing solely on the technical details of each funding stream, this interactive webinar combines national context, practical fiscal education, real-world examples, and implementation tools that participants can immediately apply within their own communities. During this Webinar Wednesday, participants will:<ul><li>Gain an understanding of the current federal funding landscape for Family Resource Centers, including national trends, current challenges, and why sustainable public funding has become an increasingly important priority for the field.</li><li>Build a practical understanding of how major federal funding streams operate, including how funding flows from the federal government through states, how different funding mechanisms work, and why understanding state funding systems helps Family Resource Centers become stronger public partners.</li><li>Hear directly from national, state, network, and Family Resource Center leaders through a facilitated fireside conversation featuring real-world examples of organizations successfully navigating federal funding partnerships, building relationships with public agencies, and strengthening community-based prevention systems.</li><li>Be introduced to the National Family Support Network's four new Practical Guides covering:</li><li>Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)</li><li>Social Services Block Grant (SSBG)</li><li>Title IV-B: Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF)</li><li>Title IV-E Prevention Services under the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA)</li></ul> Together, these four funding streams offer complementary opportunities to strengthen prevention, family well-being, and community-based systems of support. While each has distinct statutory purposes, eligibility requirements, funding structures, and implementation processes, they can often be strategically blended and braided to help build sustainable funding for Family Resource Centers and Family Resource Center Networks.Participants will also receive an overview of the four Practical Guides and learn how they can be used to engage state, Tribal, county, and local partners, strengthen funding conversations, and support long-term implementation. Each Practical Guide includes:<ul><li>Overview of the funding stream</li><li>State, Tribal, county, and territorial decision-making considerations</li><li>Who controls funding</li><li>Understanding how the funding stream is used in your state</li><li>Understanding how the funding stream works</li><li>Why this funding opportunity matters now</li><li>Fastest entry points and engagement opportunities</li><li>Step-by-step implementation guidance</li><li>Planning worksheets</li><li>Conversation guides</li><li>Federal references and implementation resources</li></ul> As part of the webinar, participants will receive all four National Family Support Network Practical Guides and leave with practical tools, real-world examples, and actionable strategies they can begin using immediately. ContextFamily Resource Centers are uniquely positioned to help shape the future of prevention and family well-being in communities across the country.Today, more than 3,000 Family Resource Centers serve children and families across the United States, providing welcoming, community-rooted hubs of support that help families build protective factors, strengthen social connections, and thrive. The National Family Support Network includes member Family Resource Center Networks representing <a href="https://www.nationalfamilysupportnetwork.org/membership" title="https://www.nationalfamilysupportnetwork.org/membership" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">38 states and the District of Columbia</a>, creating a nationwide infrastructure for peer learning, quality improvement, systems change, and collective impact.As Family Resource Centers continue gaining national recognition and public investment, there is a growing need for organizations to understand not only which federal funding opportunities exist, but also how public funding systems operate, how states make funding decisions, and how Family Resource Centers can position themselves as trusted partners within those systems.The four Practical Guides introduced during this webinar are among the first implementation resources developed following the launch of the National Family Resource Center Model. Together with insights from national experts and practitioners, they are designed to help Family Resource Centers and Family Resource Center Networks build the knowledge, confidence, and relationships needed to move from understanding federal funding opportunities to successfully pursuing them. Participants Will Leave With:<ul><li>Four comprehensive National Family Support Network Practical Guides covering TANF, SSBG, Title IV-B (PSSF), and Title IV-E Prevention Services (FFPSA).</li><li>A stronger understanding of how federal funding flows through state systems and supports community-based prevention.</li><li>Practical insight into how state agencies make funding decisions and how Family Resource Centers can better align with those priorities.</li><li>Real-world examples from leaders successfully navigating federal funding partnerships.</li><li>Planning worksheets and conversation guides for engaging state, Tribal, county, and local decision-makers.</li><li>Practical strategies for positioning Family Resource Centers and Family Resource Center Networks as trusted community-based prevention partners.</li><li>Actionable tools for blending and braiding multiple federal funding streams.</li><li>Greater confidence using the National Family Resource Center Model and Practical Guides to support long-term funding and partnership strategies. </li></ul> Who Should Participate<ul><li>Family Resource Center staff and leadership</li><li>Family Resource Center Network leaders</li><li>State, Tribal, county, and local child and family-serving agencies</li><li>Child welfare and prevention leaders</li><li>Human services professionals</li><li>Children's Trust Funds</li><li>Community-based organizations</li><li>Policymakers</li><li>Federal, state, Tribal, and local government partners</li><li>Philanthropic organizations and funders</li><li>Technical assistance providers</li><li>Researchers and evaluators</li><li>Anyone interested in strengthening prevention, family well-being, and sustainable community-based systems</li></ul> Co-Presented by:

Funding Family Resource Centers: From Understanding to Action

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Funding Family Resource Centers: From Understanding to Action

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