Many people are asking…What is a Family Resource Center and how does it positively impact the community? 

Family Resource Centers have been established across the states for many years, and now Minnesota is part of the National Family Support Network, with many counties striving to implement a Family Resource Center. 

CornerStone is happy to announce that they are one of 16 centers who are operating in Minnesota, and over 27 centers are in the implementation phase around the state. 

They have been operating as a Family Resource Center since December 2024 and have already seen how beneficial this work has been, not only for families in our town, but across the county and region. Much of their work goes unnoticed due to confidentiality of the individuals and families they serve. 

CornerStone is proud to provide a safe and trusted place for those seeking support. They don’t do this work alone, we partner with a multitude of well-established organizations in their area. These partnerships help create warm handoffs, serve as a bridge between people and resources, and reduce barriers so individuals and families can access the support they need.

From Local Impact to National Policy:  Family Resource Centers Gain National Attention

A recent return-on-investment study is bringing renewed attention to the power of Family Resource Centers (FRCs) to strengthen families, prevent child abuse, and reduce public system costs, with implications reaching far beyond the local level.

The study, conducted by the Omni Institute, examined the Community Partnership Family Resource Center in Teller County, Colorado, and found a 63% reduction in child abuse and neglect cases, alongside an estimated 3:1 return on investment for the local child welfare system. For every dollar invested in Family Resource Centers, nearly three dollars were saved in avoided child welfare costs.

Community Partnership is one of more than 3,000 Family Resource Centers nationwide that are connected to the National Family Support Network, representing a broad, community-based prevention infrastructure serving families across urban, rural, and tribal communities throughout the country.

The findings were published in the Family Justice Journal and later cited by the U.S. Senate during deliberations on funding for family support and prevention programs, signaling growing recognition that prevention-focused, community-based family support is both effective and fiscally responsible.

The research and its national policy relevance were recently highlighted by KOAA News in Colorado, bringing local visibility to a study with far-reaching implications and showcasing how the work of Family Resource Centers can inform broader conversations about prevention, outcomes, and public investment.

Beyond the data, the findings represent real outcomes for children and families, fewer families entering crisis, fewer children experiencing harm, and more families receiving timely supports such as childcare, food access, and stabilization services before challenges escalate.

This study adds to a growing national evidence base demonstrating that Family Resource Centers are a critical prevention strategy and that local practice, when documented and elevated, can help inform state and federal decision-making.

The National Family Support Network supported the dissemination of this research to help ensure that lessons from the field could reach a broader audience and contribute to conversations shaping the future of family support and prevention nationwide.

As communities across the country continue to advance family-centered, prevention-first approaches, this moment reinforces what the field has long known: when families are supported early, outcomes improve and systems are stronger.

More information here: www.koaa.com/news/local-news/community-partnership-family-resource-centers-impact-cited-by-u-s-senate