Programs & Services

First Step Family Support Center

PROGRAMS & SERVICES

First Step Family Support Center has provided support and education services to thousands of local Clallam County families as part of the agency mission to promote the healthy development of children and families for over thirty years. In 2009, our staff of 23 dedicated professionals served 4,939 primarily low-income adults and children. The purpose of the agency is to provide innovative and family-centered programs to meet the needs of parents and their children in a respectful and responsible manner. We believe that supporting parents is critical in our attempt to support young children; as parents are their child’s protectors, first teachers and emotional home.

Infant Case Management – Monthly home visiting program for at-risk low-income parents with children 2 months to 1 year of age. Provides advocacy, linkages, information, and referrals. 178 families served in 2009

Maternity Support Services - Community Health Nurse, Nutritionist, Social Worker, and Community Health Worker actively support low-income women to encourage a healthy pregnancy and healthy birth outcomes. Services are provided from beginning of pregnancy through child's first 2 months. 415 families served in 2009

Drop-In Centers – Located in Port Angeles and Sequim, Drop In offers free clothing and equipment closet, information and referrals, a children’s play area, emergency diapers and formula, access to phones, computers, fax and copier, healthy snacks, and free children’s books. 6,861 visits provided in 2009

Parent-Child Assistance Program - Home visiting program for mothers who abuse alcohol and/or drugs during pregnancy with intensive case management services. 32 families served in 2009

Parents As Teachers Home Visiting Program - Home visiting program promoting healthy child development, problem solving skills, and healthy parent support networks for families with children 0 to 3 years of age. 59 families served in 2009

Supported Parenting Program – Intensive home visiting program to help parents with cognitive limitations raise their children. 5 families served in 2009

Great Expectations! – Baby Shower celebrations in both English and Spanish for pregnant women to increase access to local services and build social support systems. 232 visits to Baby Showers in 2009

Comenzando bien^Ò - Spanish-language program utilized to reach women in a culturally-respectful manner in order to deliver linguistically-appropriate information about healthy pregnancies, local resources, and folic acid & multivitamins. 10 families served in 2009

Readiness to Learn Program - Family Support Workers bridge the gap between home and school for families with children entering kindergarten and first grade by working with parents, teachers, and children. 606 families served in 2009

Post Partum Depression Support Group - For new mothers experiencing significant post partum depression. Program utilizes therapeutic interventions, group support, and infant massage instruction. 28 women served in 2009

Summer Food Service Program for Youth – Providing a nutritious lunch daily in the summer for children ages 0-18. 4,228 lunches provided in 2009

Parenting Classes – “Baby & Me”, “Toddler & Me”, “Love & Logic”, “Healthy Relationships”, “Making Parenting a Pleasure”, and “Be the Best Dad You Can Be”, to name a few. Each session provides childcare on site, food, and transportation. Other parent education is provided by First Step at off-site locations such as homeless shelters and alternative schools. 331 class visits in 2009

Smoking Cessation Program – Assisting women to reduce or quit smoking. 121 families served in 2009

First Books Program – Provides free new books to children to assist families in establishing their children’s own personal library and to promote family literacy. Over 2,500 books distributed in 2009

Narcotics Anonymous Group - Uses the First Step facility two nights per week. First Step provides on-site childcare for these groups and healthy snacks and activities for their children. 2,366 visits provided in 2009

Making Holiday Memories Dinner –

A terrific family-focused event to encourage memory building during the

Holiday season. The evening includes dinner, gift rooms, craft projects

and photos with Santa. 101 adults and 162 children attended in 2009

For more information or to register

for a program or class, contact:

First Step Family Support Center

(360) 457-8355

325 E 6^th Street

Port Angeles, WA 98362

(360) 457-3820 fax