A Brief History

In 1999, the Del Norte Healthcare District conducted a needs assessment as part of its Wellness Center project that validated the community’s desire for Family Resource Center core services and programs, something completely new to Del Norte County. FIRST 5 Del Norte and the Area 1 Agency on Aging partnered to open our Del Norte Family Resource Center (FRC) in the spring of 2002.

Since then, the FRC has offered parent education and support, comprehensive information and referral, early childhood development programs and activities, teen outreach, a family resource library, peer-to-peer support, life skills education, Healthy Del Norte Kids insurance assistance and enrollment, drop-in and respite opportunities, and enrichment programs that serve all residents.

The original Family Resource Center (FRC), approximately 5,500 square feet of rented space, was located in downtown Crescent City. Over the five years, the FRC counted over 18,000 visits through its information and referral program, services and activities. The physical space was not sufficient to meet community demand. It was clear to the FIRST 5 Commission that a permanent facility was needed to allow the FRC to become sustainable and to truly belong to the community.

FIRST 5 Del Norte searched for and purchased a 9000 square foot market with surrounding land and financed the renovation in 2007. The new FRC opened in October and is within walking distance of two elementary schools, the junior high, a faith-based pre-school school, the high school and junior college. During the opening celebration month of November, more than 1200 guests of all ages came to the FRC. In January 2008, we had over 1400 visits!

The initial mission of the FRC has held steady and remains: “The Family Resource Center supports and enhances opportunities that enrich the lives of children, families and all members of our community through education, information, referrals, programs, and activities that build bridges between generations and people and that celebrate our children and families.”