FAMILY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

Family Development services are a way of working with families and empowering them to move out of poverty. Family Development services are generally provided one-on-one, and are both intensive and long-term. Families participate on a voluntary basis, and are full partners in identifying their strengths and needs. With support from OFC, Inc. staff, families take responsibility for developing their own goals and action plans.

The goals of Family Development services is to support families in their efforts to move from crisis situations, economic dependency, and vulnerability to an increasingly stable and economically self-supporting situation. Staff work with 10 to 25 families at any one time. The working relationship with a family is generally maintained for 1 to 3 years. Currently, OFC, Inc. provides Family Development services to approximately 300 families across 6 different service areas.

FAMILY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY TEAM

Since April 1991, Family Development service staff and representatives from all Agency programs have worked together as members of the OFC, Inc. Family Development Strategy Team. The purpose of the Strategy Team is to provide support and information for staff delivering Family Development services and principles at OFC, Inc.. The Family Development Strategy Team meets on a monthly basis.

FAMILY DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES

Family Development at OFC, Inc. is also a series of principles and a philosophy of working with people that encompasses all programs and services within the Agency. These principles include:

• Working with individuals and families in a way that is respectful and supportive of their ability to effect change in their own lives. Family members are directly involved and supported in identifying their own strengths and needs, and in developing their own goals and action plans.

• Engaging individuals and families as partners in their relationship with the Agency. Examples include creating opportunities for participation on advisory committees, encouraging volunteerism, and supporting families in their efforts to do as much for themselves as possible.

• Challenging OFC, Inc. staff and volunteers to work outside of their immediate job responsibilities when necessary. We work to consider family circumstances, needs and goals as comprehensively as possible.

• Improving our skills and services. Service delivery is enhanced though the establishment and evaluation of outcome based program plans, the updating of technology and communication systems, and the removal of barriers within OFC, Inc. to raise the efficiency and quality of services to families. Staff skills are increased through ongoing training, including training for the Family Development Credential offered at OFC, Inc. by a certified staff trainer and administered by Cornell University.

THE FUTURE OF FAMILY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHENANGO, INC

OFC, Inc. continues to identify and secure resources to maintain and expand Family Development services. Partnership projects with schools, government and other non-profit organizations offer opportunities to deliver Family Development services to a number of different populations and families with diverse needs. Resources to serve families remain scarce, and generally limit and restrict participation. OFC, Inc. actively pursues both partnerships and more flexible sources of funding to provide Family Development services to families eager to become self-supporting and improve the quality of their lives.