Family Support programs help families meet their needs and provide support to improve the environment in which children learn and grow.  The programs help parents gain skills, social supports, and make community linkages.  These are important for nurturing and supporting the healthy development of young children.  These supports include EITC, TANF, family leave, income supports, child care support, parenting education, job training, healthcare, mental health services and help accessing other social services.  Some examples of family support programs are family resource centers, home visiting programs, and linking single service providers to other providers in the community. The most effective programs address individual, family, community, and policy levels with a respect for values and culture.  They reinforce their message in multiple settings. 

Doctors' Advocacy:

• Docs can build partnerships in their communities by establishing relationships with other social service providers, and ensuring that families are receiving services they may be eligible for, including Part C, Head Start, child care subsidies, TANF (welfare) and WIC

• Docs can advocate for increased funding and coordination of these important family support services, policies, and infrastructure

• Docs can provide information about community resources in their waiting room such as parenting education, job training, mental health services, using the library, ECE

• Docs can discuss various parenting topics during the pediatric visit including safety measures, importance of reading, strategies for guidance and discipline