7th District Association Beneficiary

The Family Center
website: www.thefamilycenter.org/

The Family Center works to create a more secure present and future for children whose parents have a life-threatening illness by providing comprehensive legal and social services, education and research. Our work is fueled by the belief that every child deserves an answer to the question: Who Will Take Care of Me?

The Family Center evolved from the vision of four women, who, while working at the Department of Social Services in New York City, focused on the needs of families affected by AIDS. The biggest concern of the parents was not for themselves, but for their children. However, little was being done to prepare the children for death, mourning and rebuilding their lives. With these families in mind, The Family Center was founded in 1994 to help families remain stable and cope with the implications and gravity of their health situation. It will never be easy, but we can help make it less difficult.

The Family Center works with the children, the parents and the caregivers. Filling in the gap that exists in other organizations, the founders decided to offer comprehensive legal and social services under one umbrella. Our lawyers work with families to establish custodial/legal guardianship plans, health care proxies, wills and power of attorney. Trained social workers and family coordinators provide individual and family counseling, mediation services, benefits assistance and cross referrals to other support services.

The Family Center Programs

• Caregiver Services
• Legal Services
• Outreach Services
• Research
• Social Services
• Youth Programs

Fact Sheet

• TFC has served over 3500 parents and children to date
• We are funded by government agencies, private foundations, corporations and individual donors
• TFC is one of the few agencies in the U.S. that provide in-home comprehensive legal and social services to families
• Over 90% of the children we serve are healthy
• 95% of the families we serve live below the poverty line
• Most of the parents we serve are African American or Latina single mothers with 2-3 children
• The majority of our clients are living with AIDS or cancer, but we also serve families affected by any serious illness
• We have special services to grandparents and other relatives raising children under 18
• Our services are free, confidential and bilingual in English and Spanish