The California Family Resource Association (CFRA) is a statewide membership association of organizations and individuals that serve children and families. Our purpose is to advocate for the programs, policies and resources that help families and communities thrive and succeed. We also build the capacity of our member organizations to impact policy change, partner with local government and community allies, and achieve sustainability.

CFRA is an agency of the Child Abuse Prevention Center (CAP Center), an organization with a 35-year history of preventing child abuse and neglect. The CAP Center is home to Safe Kids California, Lift the Children, Child Abuse Prevention Council of Sacramento, CFRA and our fiscal agent, Prevent Child Abuse California.

While CFRA was founded in 2005, our association was five years in the making and brought to fruition a long-held vision to build an effective policy voice that could advocate for family-centered programs and policies.

Efforts to form CFRA began in 2001 when philanthropy and community-based leaders came together to identify how best to assist the field of family-serving organizations in providing comprehensive, preventive approaches that support families and communities. Through an extensive statewide process, more than 1,000 individuals provided input that was crucial to the formation of CFRA. Their hard work, dedication and vision are all reflected in the association that has been created — and is a vital part of what CFRA is today.

The Foundation Consortium for California’s Children & Youth also provided critical leadership and in-kind support to CFRA during its formation. While the Foundation Consortium closed its doors after a remarkable 14 years of service, CFRA is honored to carry on the Consortium’s rich legacy built on values of embracing the “whole” child, engaging everyone involved in finding solutions, being accountable for results, investing in smart approaches and celebrating champions.

Our doors opened to membership on January 1, 2006 and we are now a thriving statewide network of over 250 member-organizations. We invite you to join us and help improve the lives of children, families and communities throughout California.

VISION STATEMENT

Vibrant communities that put children and families first.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the California Family Resource Association is to advocate for the innovative public policies and resources needed for families and communities to thrive and succeed.

PURPOSE

• Public policy
• Capacity building
• Networking

POLICY PRIORITIES

• Child welfare
• Mental health
• Family economic success
• School readiness

KEY STRATEGIES

• Educating lawmakers and positively influencing policy.
• Increasing public and private funding for programs that support the economic, social and educational well-being of children and families.
• Networking and building membership to create a unified policy voice and share best practice program approaches.
• Systematic data collection and program evaluation that documents a comprehensive program approach and successful outcomes.
• Strategic communications that inform public policy, officials and private funders.

IN GRATITUDE

Thank you for your critical assistance and support of CFRA!

Family Support Funders Group

Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund — Hedy Chang

First 5 Association of California — Sherry Novick and Pat Wheatley

First 5 California — Jane Henderson and Roberta Peck

Foundation Consortium for California’s Children & Youth — Judith K. Chynoweth

S.H. Cowell Foundation — Lise Maisano

State of California Department of Social Services, Office of Child Abuse Prevention — Linda Hockman

The California Endowment — Dorinda Ohnstadt

Consultant — Kathy Armstrong

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Design Team

Leticia Alejandrez — Foundation Consortium for California’s Children & Youth

Bob Brunson — Prevent Child Abuse Riverside County

Mary Jo Buettner — Chula Vista Community Collaborative

Gloria Flaherty — Sutter Lakeside Community Services

Veronica Goei — San Jose Grail Development Corporation

Lois Jones — Parents Helping Parents

Susan Kaplan — Friends of the Family

Len Kruszecki — Consultant for San Joaquin County Family Resource Centers

Lourdes Niggle — Kern County Network for Children

Mike Smith — Consultant

Mary Ann Soden — Orangewood Children’s Foundation, Family and Communities Together

Sherry Tennyson — Asian Perinatal Advocates

Kim Thomas — The Children’s Network

Yoland Trevino — Transformative Collaborations International

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