FAMILY SERVICES INC

THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT DIVISION IS COMPRISED OF THE FEDERAL HEAD START PROGRAM AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR PRIVATE PAY DAY CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. THESE PRIVATE PAY SERVICES INCLUDE EXTENDED DAY AND PRE-K SERVICES.CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - THESE SERVICES ARE OPEN TO ALL CHILDREN AND ARE SUPPORTED BY CLIENT FEES, DSS STIPENDS, AND/OR CONTRACTED STATE PRE-K FEES. THE SERVICES ALSO INCLUDE EXTENDED HOUR DAY CARE. IN 2022-2023, 714 FAMILIES WERE SERVED IN THIS PROGRAM.HEAD START PROGRAM - THIS IS THE LARGEST DIVISION AND CONSTITUTES OVER HALF OF FAMILY SERVICES, INC.'S TOTAL FUNDING BUDGET. THE FAMILY SERVICES, INC. HEAD START PROGRAM SERVES LOW-INCOME CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES LIVING IN FORSYTH COUNTY.THE HEAD START PROGRAM PROVIDES A RANGE OF COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES WHICH CONSIST OF EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF PROVIDING ALL CHILDREN WITH A SAFE, NURTURING, ENGAGING, FUN, AND SECURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. CHILDREN GAIN AWARENESS, SKILLS, AND CONFIDENCE NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND LIFE. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS A CONTINUUM OF CHILDREN'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, WHICH INCLUDES EACH CHILD'S PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT. THE HEAD START PROGRAM MAINTAINS A STAFF OF WELL-QUALIFIED EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS.PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN IS THE CORNERSTONE FOR BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HEAD START PROGRAM. PARENTS ARE CONSIDERED THE PRIMARY EDUCATORS OF THEIR CHILDREN. HEAD START PARENTS ARE INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THEIR INTEREST AND KNOWLEDGE OF EDUCATION, COMMUNITY AWARENESS, AND PERSONAL GROWTH. PARENTS PARTICIPATE IN A SERIES OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TRAININGS TAUGHT BY LOCAL FINANCIAL EXPERTS. ADDITIONALLY, PARENTS RECEIVE EDUCATIONAL TRAINING. PARENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS FOR PROGRAM OPERATION AS AN ELECTED MEMBER OF THE POLICY COUNCIL.HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN INCLUDE DENTAL, VISION, SPEECH, AND HEARING. NUTRITIONAL NEEDS ARE MET BY PROVIDING A NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST AND LUNCH DAILY. MENTAL WELLNESS SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IS OFFERED ON-SITE. CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ARE IDENTIFIED AND REFERRALS TO SUPPORTING AGENCIES ENSURE FOLLOW-UP AND SUPPORT SERVICES. TEN PERCENT OF THE PROGRAM'S ENROLLMENT IS CHILDREN WITH A DIAGNOSED DISABILITY. THROUGH THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP COMPONENT, FAMILIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO DEVELOP FAMILY GOALS THAT WOULD MOVE THEM TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH JOB TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

THE SAFE RELATIONSHIPS DIVISION OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE ARRAY OF SERVICES, INCLUDING COURT ADVOCACY FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT, A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER THAT PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER, CRISIS INTERVENTION, INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING, AND VARIOUS GROUP INTERVENTIONS FOR VICTIMS. COLLABORATIVE APPROACHES SUCH AS SAFE ON SEVEN HAVE INCREASED THE IMPACT OF THIS DIVISION.FSI ALSO OFFERS TWO CRISIS HOTLINES, ONE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ONE FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT. A LARGE PART OF THIS SERVICE FOCUSES ON RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, FACILITATED BY COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER AREA AGENCIES. ONE COLLABORATION INITIATED BY FSI IS THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMMUNITY COUNCIL (DVCC), WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL AGENCIES SERVING THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE POPULATION IN FORSYTH COUNTY. THE DVCC HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN STREAMLINING SERVICES AND COORDINATING COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORTS.FSI ALSO WORKS IN COORDINATION WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO PROVIDE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT EDUCATION WITHIN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. SPECIALIZED SERVICES ALSO INCLUDE A FORENSIC INTERVIEWING FACILITY FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO OR ARE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE. THIS FACILITY, THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER, IS HOUSED IN THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER AND IS ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE.SAFE RELATIONSHIP SERVICES RECEIVE SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENTAL FUNDING AS WELL AS UNITED WAY, FOUNDATIONS, FEES, AND CONTRIBUTIONS. SERVICES INCLUDE: CRIME VICTIMS' SERVICES; DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT COURT ADVOCACY; DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT CRISIS RESPONSE; DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER; COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS INCLUDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMMUNITY COUNCIL (DVCC); SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE TEAM (SART); AND CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM (MDT).