Expanding Arizona’s Family Resource Centers
Lasting change starts with shared vision. At Prevent Child Abuse Arizona, we use research and evaluation as tools to build that vision together—turning shared learning into strategy and collective action.
Family Resource Centers (FRCs) are a lifeline for parents, providing support that's crucial in reducing stressors. They are welcoming hubs of community services and activities where families can build connections and find the resources they need before crises occur.
Through the FRC Pathway Team, a collaborative group of state agencies, nonprofits, philanthropies, FRC leaders, and parent leaders, we’re working toward one goal: To develop a robust, comprehensive, and sustainable system of FRCs accessible to all families with children ages 0–17 across Arizona.
To achieve this, the FRC Pathway Team created a Six-Point Strategic Plan:
- Create a common definition and identify all existing FRCs in Arizona.
- Understand what resources it will take to expand FRCs to all Arizona counties and to families with children of all ages.
- Raise awareness of FRCs.
- Identify funding sources to build FRC capacity.
- Support and expand the Arizona Family Resource Network (AZFRN), our state’s professional network of FRCs.
- Explore how FRCs connect with other statewide initiatives and strategies.
From Learning to Action
Strategies 1 and 2 laid the foundation for understanding how to strengthen and expand Arizona’s FRC system. In 2024, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona released the FRC Landscape Study, which mapped the existing network and provided a snapshot of its reach.
Our latest report, Expanding to All Ages, builds on that work. While most FRCs currently focus on families with children ages birth to five, this study explores what it would take to expand services to families with children up to age 17.
But the research wasn’t just about data. While we gathered solid estimates—such as the $7 million needed to support 33 sites in their first year of expansion—our approach also sparked something deeper: collective direction and readiness.
Empowering Those Who Do the Work
The Family Resource Advisory Council, the leadership group that guides the direction of the Arizona Family Resource Network (AZFRN), requested that we gather input directly from FRC leaders. In response, we held focus groups with 39 leaders who wanted to brainstorm together—reflecting the collaborative spirit that defines the AZFRN.
These discussions planted seeds for ongoing strategic thinking. Using an Empowerment Evaluation approach showed that leaders were not simply data sources, but critical thinkers and changemakers, reflecting on what expansion would require within their own teams, organizations, and communities:
“I’m relieved (that expanding FRCs to serve families with older children is being discussed). Families (are distressed) when their children turn five and age out of our services."
“Expansion is so critical and needed. We built relationships and trust with families who have kiddos who aged out. Then maybe three or four years later, they're calling looking for a service. They have that connection with us, so it’s natural for them to stay connected.”
“I’m having this aha moment that our resource center is really built on partnerships. Maybe we don’t have to do the work—just provide the space for others already doing it.”
What We Found
- 77% of FRCs are willing to expand if they receive adequate resources.
- $7 million would help 33 sites expand in the first year—about $212,000 per FRC.
- Barriers include funding restrictions, staffing capacity, and space limitations.
- Many FRCs already informally serve families of all ages through inclusive events and referrals.
- FRCs value flexible funding, strong partnerships, and peer-led technical assistance to expand effectively.
Why Now?
Rising family stress, reduced funding, and political uncertainty mean that Arizona families need community-driven support more than ever. With the ongoing decrease of funding available to First Things First, the strength of our FRC network—and the trust families already have in it—offers a powerful path forward.
Looking Ahead
Arizona’s FRCs are ready. This study doesn’t just outline financial needs; it provides a framework for shared action. Together, we can build a statewide system of family support that grows with families, not beyond them.