RADFORD – New River Community Action (NRCA) has been selected by Families
Forward Virginia (FFV) to participate in a three-year demonstration site program to build
protective factors for children and their families within their communities.
Selected sites
will utilize the Family Resource Center model, identified by the National Family Support
Network, as a strategy to reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect, advance
racial equity and support for underserved communities in prevention programs, and
speak to the complex issues that often contribute to families becoming involved in the
child welfare system.
The project seeks to demonstrate implementation and evaluation of Family Resource
Centers through developing comprehensive child and family well-being systems that are
co-designed with families and communities. Sites will demonstrate a process for
incorporating primary prevention and public health approaches into overall community
well-being consistent with the social and environmental determinants of health and to
create the conditions necessary for all families to thrive.
The Thriving Families Safer Children initiative demonstration Family Resource Centers are designed to focus on an individual census tract. The census tract that will be the focus of efforts led by NRCA is located in a portion of the Town of Pulaski and Pulaski County.
Census tracts eligible under the program have a Child Opportunity Index (COI) rating of “low” or “very low”. The COI uses 29 measures from a wide range of education, health, environment, social, and economic indicators. The COI is developed by Diversity Data Kids.
NRCA will work with a team of agency partners including the Women’s Resource Center, the Calfee Community and Cultural Center, NRV Cares, and New River Valley Community
Services, as well as community members, and people with lived experience to develop and implement the Family Resource Center demonstration site. The project begins with a six-month collaborative planning period in which additional partnerships and collaborations will be identified.
NRCA CEO Krystal Thompson said, “We are honored that Families Forward Virginia selected our area of the state and NRCA to participate in this prestigious demonstration project. NRCA’s experience administering programs with a two-generation focus, such as CHIP of NRV, Head Start, and Whole Family, is a source of strength. We are confident that the process and technical assistance provided by FFV will put this site in an excellent position for success.”
Families Forward Virginia is Virginia’s leading organization dedicated to disrupting the cycles of child abuse, neglect, and poverty. Supported by both public and private funding, Families Forward provides statewide leadership for and unifies support for a multitude of Virginia programs through evidence-based and multi-generational prevention strategies. In 2017, Families
Forward Virginia was created as a result of the merger of Prevent Child Abuse Virginia, CHIP of Virginia, and Early Impact Virginia.
About NRCA: Established in 1965, NRCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency serving the City of Radford and the Counties of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski. The mission of NRCA is to promote and support the well-being and self-reliance of individuals, families, and communities. In partnership with other human service agencies, community groups, grantors, and donors, NRCA provides assistance to approximately 8,000 people each year through programs that meet basic needs, strengthen families, and promote economic stability.
NRCA administers a variety of local programs designed to address the effects of poverty: Head Start; Children’s Health Improvement Partnership (CHIP); Homeless and Housing Programs (Rapid Re-housing, Homeless Prevention, Housing Counseling, Renter Education Workshops); VA CARES services for ex-offenders; Emergency Assistance/Food Pantries; Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA); the Floyd County Backpack Program; the To Our House thermal homeless shelter; and Whole Family two-generation comprehensive services.
