Georgia Family Support Network

Georgia Family Support Network

Across the country, Family Support and Strengthening organizations work with families in a multi-generational, family-centered approach to enhance parenting skills, foster the healthy development and well-being of children, youth, and families, prevent child abuse, increase school readiness, connect families to resources, develop parent and community leadership, engage males and fathers, support healthy marital and couples relationships and promote family economic success.

Founded in 2011, the National Family Support Network (NFSN) is a membership-based organization comprised of state networks of two or more Family Support and Strengthening programs, such as 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 29 member networks, comprised of more than 3,000 Family Support and Strengthening organizations, representing the great geographical and demographic diversity of the nation. In 2018, the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services’ Prevention and Community Support Section launched the Georgia Family Support Network (GFSN), becoming one of the newest states in the NFSN.

Vision Statement

The vision of the Georgia Family Support Network is a state in which every family is thriving and has access to a strong and effective family support and strengthening network.

Mission Statement

The mission of the GFSN is to leverage state, county and community networks to strengthen practices and policies that champion quality family support.

Goals

1. Georgia network members are connected and supported to enhance their effectiveness.
2. Family Support best practices are fully implemented across Georgia.
3. The value and impact of the state Family Support and Strengthening network is highly visible and leads to increased support for families in Georgia.

Objectives

• Increase the number of organizations implementing the national Family Support and Strengthening Standards.
• Increase the number of local and state policy makers, funders and communities who understand the value and impact of the Family Support Network and are investing or directing resources to organizations implementing the national standards.
• Increase the number of families who are supported by high quality Family Support programs and services.

Become a Member of the Georgia Family Support Network

GFSN welcomes all family-serving organizations that want to become trained in the Standards, work towards improving program quality, and have a desire to connect with others. The first step is reaching out and attending or hosting a Standards Training.

Why Become a Member?

The Georgia Family Support Network membership consists of agencies, groups, or individuals that work to develop community-based family support and primary prevention services for all families. Leverage membership to:

• Market valuable services, programs and activities to families
• Boost the organization’s credibility with families, community partners and potential funders and be included in the resource map
• Identify potential funding opportunities that align with family support strategies
• Get introduced to and learn from other programs and organizations across the state and country
• Support families with evidence-based and best practice programs and services
• Identify program gaps and collaborate with other organizations in the network to improve collective impact
• Access high quality training for staff
• Align with the state’s child abuse prevention plan

For more information about the GFSN or to become a member, please contact Melody Weaver, GFSN coordinator, at [email protected]. 

Georgia Family Support Network Website

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