← Go Back

Workshop Details

B3: Building Collaborative Communities through Family Resource Centers

Presented by Susana Mariscal, Ph.D., MSW, Jill Kelly, LCSW, Christina Chandler, BA, and Janie Ames, MSW
Located at

Workshop Description

This presentation focuses on the critical role of family resource centers in fostering cross-system collaborations and family resilience in local communities. The discussion will describe strategies family resource center coordinators used to build cross-system partnerships and collaboration. Grounded in a family-strengthening and resilience-building philosophy, the attendees will learn about the positive outcomes achieved through collaborative service delivery and comprehensive and data -informed support systems. Attendees will be engaged in collaborative partnership mapping.

Learning Objectives:

  • Explore the critical role that family resource centers play in fostering collaboration and community-based service delivery (e.g., co-located services)
  • Identify strategies for implementing comprehensive and data informed support systems that positively impact families and communities.
  • Detail the benefits of local crosses from collaboration to promote family strengths and resilience and support strength based primary child maltreatment prevention.

Approved by DCS for Foster Care Parent Hours

Presenter Bios:

Susy Mariscal, PhD, MSW is an associate professor in the Indiana University School of Social Work and the director of the Strengthening Indiana Families Project. Dr. Mariscal is a leader scholar in strengths-based child maltreatment prevention and resilience after exposure to victimization.

Jill Kelly, LCSW is the Vice President of Community-Based Services at Firefly Children and Family Alliance. Jill’s more than 25 years in social work and human services have provided her the experience and expertise needed to revitalize both the prevention and intervention programs at Firefly Children and Family Alliance. Jill manages Community Partners for Child Safety for Firefly and the 10-million-dollar budget that accompanies these programs.  She is the implementation partner for the Family Resource Centers (Strengthening Indiana Families) and has also participated on different prevention-focused initiatives, committees, and projects in Indiana.  

Christina Chandler, BA is the Family Resource Center Coordinator for Grant County. She has extensive experience providing prevention services to families at Firefly Children and Family Alliance and as a Liaison for Community Partners for Child Safety. Christina has a passion for supporting children and families in reaching their full potential and empowering their lives. 

Janie Ames, MSW is the Project Coordinator of the Strengthening Indiana Families with the Indiana University School of Social Work. Strengthening Indiana Families is a federally funded project that seeks to prevent child maltreatment through community collaborations. She has worked with children, families, and communities in a variety of roles, settings and populations.