​Family Resource Center Quality Assurance

Family Resource Centers (FRCs) are key partners in implementing the Prevention Board’s community investment plan and promoting its approach to strengthening families. There are 44 agencies in Wisconsin that meet the criteria to be designated as an FRC. Each FRC is adept at tailoring their services to the families they serve and their community needs. However, there are common elements that support high quality practice.
The Prevention Board has spearheaded a process for aligning the infrastructure of FRCs across the state, so that families participating in an FRC in one part of the state are met with the same approach to services as families in another part of the state. The process includes the following components:​​
A process evaluation of the pilot infrastructure development process is described in this story map.​​
In Wisconsin,  Thriving Wisconsin, is comprised of 39 member FRCs and represents Wisconsin in the National Family Support Network ​(NFSN), a membership-based organization comprised of state networks of Family Resource Centers working together within a collective impact framework to ensure coordinated quality support for families. Thriving Wisconsin exists to develop and support an effective network of family support systems and early care and education systems which brings quality, strength-based services to all Wisconsin communities.​
In order to ensure implementation of standards of quality and ongoing assurance that FRCs are meeting those standards, Thriving Wisconsin has developed an accreditation process for certifying Wisconsin FRCs as an FRC of Quality.​ The​re are currently 10 accredited FRCs of Quality in Wisconsin with 9 additional FRCs currently undergoing a Prevention Board grant funded infrastructure development process to build capacity toward accreditation. ​