Family Resource Center Association to Receive Multimillion-Dollar Grant to Improve Child, Family Health and Nutrition

DENVER, April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Family Resource Center Association (FRCA) will increase its reach and improve the health of more than 20,000 vulnerable children and their families in 44 counties statewide, with the support of a $10.55 million grant from the Colorado Health Foundation. FRCA's unique network of 23 family resource centers work with the entire family to help them become more self-reliant in areas that affect their family stability, including parenting, health, education, employment, housing, and financial management.

Through the Improving Access to Health Care and Healthy Living Project, FRCA's family resource centers will increase the number of eligible Coloradans enrolled in the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) and Medicaid and help children and adults adopt healthier lifestyles through nutrition and exercise programs over the next three years.

FRCA's collaborative approach has proven to be effective in improving health, social, educational and economic outcomes for entire families, not just individuals.  With their focus on family strengths, their strong community networks, and their trusted relationships with families, family resource centers address the multi-pronged and intersecting issues affecting low-income families.  

"We are thrilled to continue and expand our partnership with the Colorado Health Foundation," said Mark Kling, FRCA Executive Director. "This investment in our family resource centers and families will impact the health and wellness of the nearly 70,000 children and families we serve across the state annually."

The project will specifically address several of the health indicators in which Colorado has fallen behind, including health insurance coverage for children (where Colorado ranks 44th nationally), regular physical activity for children (34th), and child obesity (23rd), according to the 2010 Colorado Health Report Card.  

Key components of the project include:

• Health advocates at each family resource center will assist eligible families in enrolling children in health coverage through CHP+ or Medicaid;
• Each family resource center will offer expanded nutrition and/or exercise programs for local families; these programs are based on models with proven evidence of success;
• 10 centers will help more low-income families access fresh fruits and vegetables through links to farmer's markets and community gardens;
• 5 centers will pilot a new parent engagement model to help families advocate for healthier food choices for their children in schools and communities.

"FRCA and the family resource centers are a natural partner for us because of their ability to improve the health of the entire family," said Khanh Nguyen, senior program officer – Healthy Living at the Colorado Health Foundation. "This project clearly aligns with our vision to make Colorado the healthiest state in the nation. The Foundation provides investments to ensure that all Coloradans have access to the components of healthy living, and that all Coloradans have health coverage and receive quality, coordinated, and affordable health care. The family resource centers know and understand their communities, and we see them as a vital partner in achieving this goal."

The Family Resource Center Association empowers families to raise healthy children by strengthening and sustaining the work of its 23 family resource centers across Colorado.  Family resource centers work with the entire family to help them become more self-reliant in key areas affecting their family stability, including health, parenting, education, employment, housing, and financial management. For more information, please visit www.cofamilycenters.org.

The Colorado Health Foundation works to make Colorado the healthiest state in the nation by investing in grants and initiatives to health-related nonprofits that focus on increasing the number of Coloradans with health insurance, ensuring they have access to quality, coordinated care and encouraging healthy living.  For more information, please visit www.ColoradoHealth.org.

Contact:
Julie Pecaut
Family Resource Center Association
(303) 388-1001 x104
[email protected]

Jaclyn Julian
The Colorado Health Foundation
(303) 953-3631
[email protected]

SOURCE Family Resource Center Association