Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY “FAMILY SUPPORT”?

Our programs adhere to some core beliefs about families and how they can best meet the needs of their children. Family Support Programs affiliated with PFSA follow some general principles in their approach to working with families. A few of these are:

The program listens to the concerns of the family and treats each family member with respect. The program designs its services with consideration for the expressed needs of the families.
Staff and family members work together to access resources, find solutions, and build community for the family members to grow and develop.
Family Support Programs are respectful of the cultural, racial and linguistic identities of the community in which they operate.
Families are encouraged to reach out to other families, and to communities, in order to be part of the community-building process.
The program is flexible and responds to newly identified needs of families. Staff of Family Support Programs advocate for services and systems that are accountable to the families served.
The Family Support Program provides ongoing services to families and designs services that create both formal and informal networks of support for families. Examples of such services are support groups, parenting classes, parent/child play sessions, home visits to support parents and early childhood learning programs.

CAN PARENTS COME TO YOUR OFFICE FOR HELP?

When parents call our toll-free line we refer them to a program in their community, and we often mail parents copies of our parenting brochures (if they choose to give a name and address). Groups or classes are not held at our office. We provide training, materials and technical assistance to organizations working with parents, and mandated reporters, who help parents directly.

IS “FAMILY SUPPORT” THE SAME AS “CHILD SUPPORT”?

No. When people refer to “child support” they are usually talking about financial payments made by a non-custodial parent to a custodial parent or other caretaker of a child. PFSA does not handle any type of child support issues other than providing general information to parents, as we do on a variety of topics. For information about paying or collecting child support in Pennsylvania, contact your county Domestic Relations office or the State Child Support website at www.childsupport.state.pa.us.

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS?

We customize our services to meet the needs of the affiliated organization; these organizations then provide Family Support Programs in their communities. Here are some services that our affiliates enjoy:

Current information on issues facing the child welfare and abuse prevention community; an organized presence in state government to educate legislators about the needs of the families they serve.
Organization of special events and awareness campaigns like the Blue Ribbon campaign for Child Abuse Prevention Month.
A video lending library and book lending library of more than 100 titles each are available to supplement the local Family Support Program meetings and enhance learning.
When parents are looking for help, they can access a local group by calling the state office toll-free number, where we will refer them to the program.
Training to increase the skills of staff as group facilitators; this is provided near your office at no charge. Training for childcare staff ensures the best possible program for the whole family. Plus - special sessions of our acclaimed training for mandated reporters are scheduled “for affiliates only.”
Technical assistance - and a variety of marketing materials to help local programs recruit new families. Monthly mailings provide meeting ideas, legislative alerts, and other resources to make the job easier.
High quality publications - like the "Parenting Primers" and our parenting series on special topics such as parents in recovery and parents with mental illness - at reduced cost to the affiliated agency.

HOW CAN OUR ORGANIZATION JOIN PFSA?

Affiliates of PFSA are organizations that work with families in an ongoing way - for example, family centers and family preservation programs, counseling offices, and mental health programs. Child care centers, Head Start programs and early intervention services are also good affiliates for our program and specialized groups for homeless families, incarcerated parents and parents in recovery are also held in many locations. For details on affiliating, contact the Program Director at 1-800-448-4906.

WHAT TRAINING DO YOU PROVIDE FOR MANDATED REPORTERS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT?

Training is provided on how to recognize, respond to, and report child abuse and neglect. Free on-site presentations are available for education, childcare, community services and religious professionals. The training is generally offered in 3-hour and 6-hour workshops for groups of 15 to 50 participants. For details, check the mandated reporter section of this website or call our office and speak to the Director of Training.

HOW CAN I ORDER BROCHURES, TRAINING MATERIALS OR CURRICULUM FROM PFSA?

It's easy to order our parenting brochures, “Building Your Family” curriculum and resources for mandated reporters. Affiliates should use the special order form on the affiliate page (it reflects your discounted prices); all others use the online order form. You can also call our office at 1-800-448-4906 for information. We accept checks and credit cards. Purchase orders are required for any materials requiring an invoice. All sales are final.