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Family Enrichment Centers (FEC)

In 2017, The Administration for Children's Services launched three Family Enrichment Centers (FEC). FECs are a family-centered, primary prevention model that provide community-designed supports in a warm, inviting home-like space where neighbors can connect, contribute to their community, find resources, support one another, and build strategies that help families thrive.

Introducing the Family Enrichment Centers!

There are FECs in the following communities, each with a unique name selected by community members:

Bronx

Brooklyn

Manhattan

Queens

Staten Island

Center for Court Innovation with the Staten Island Justice Center in St. George/Stapleton

FECs work with families and local leaders to identify community strengths and develop programs (called "offerings") that promote one or more of seven family protective factors. Five of these family protective factors are based on Strengthening Families, protective factors approach developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy. It is currently the most widely used approach in the field, being adopted by more than 40 states around the country in programming designed to prevent child abuse and neglect. This particular approach focuses on five key protective factors that have been associated with lower rates of child abuse and neglect and higher rates of child well-being in the research literature.

A calendar of offerings can be found on each FEC's website. All offerings are designed to promote one or more of seven family protective factors. There is no case management offered and participation is not tracked or monitored by ACS. Providing names, address and other identifying information is optional and not needed in order to participate in or visit an FEC. FEC participation is voluntary and open to all community members.

	Everyone needs to be resilient; to have the ability to manage stress and challenges.
	Everyone needs social connections with friends, family, and neighbors who provide guidance, emotional support, and a helping hand when needed.
	Parents and caregivers need knowledge of parenting and child development, including parenting skills that support children's learning and development.
	Everyone needs access to concrete support in times of need, such as financial supports and access to basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter.
	Parents and Caregivers need to support the social and emotional competence of children by helping children learn skills that allow them to communicate emotions, thoughts, and have healthy relationships.
	Everyone should be economically stable and have access to educational and career pathways to create a stable foundation for themselves and their family.
	Everyone should have connections to neighbors and nurturing relationships among family members and between parents, caregivers and children.

FEC Resources