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Our Programs
Information and Referral
We can help you find the appropriate community resource for a variety of topics from energy assistance to finding a class on potty training. Contact us if you have any questions regarding your family. Call (715) 833-1735 or email frcec@frcec.org for help!
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Warm Line
We have staff who specialize in all areas of family life and child development. If you have non-emergency questions or would like support in the day-to-day challenges of parenting, we are just a phone call away. Our office hours are Monday through Friday 9:00 am - 2:00 pm, and you can reach us at 715.833-1735 or email your questions to frcec@frcec.org.
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Toy and Resource Lending Library
Our library contains books and videos on many different parenting and child development topics , as well as wonderful toys for your child. These items are all available to check out and enjoy at home.
  
"Literacy Kits" Interactive Learning Kits are age appropriate activities for you and your child to share to nurture his or her love of reading. Check the bags out at FRC and other partnering sites.
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Home Visiting
A professionally trained parent educator will visit your family monthly to share information and resources about child development and parenting topics using the nationally acclaimed Parents As Teachers Curriculum. This opportunity is available to parents living in Eau Claire County who are teen parents, or are expecting or adopting their first baby, and/or whose first baby is under the age of 18 months.
To learn more about Parents as Teachers, please visit www.parentsasteachers.org .
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Parent Education Classes
Choose from classes designed to help parents strengthen their parenting skills. Free childcare is provided. Please check out our current newsletter for a list of parent education classes. You will find that we offer a wide variety of classes, from potty training to raising responsible children.
Building Baby's Brain is offered every 3 months, once in each newsletter. In this class you will learn how positive interactions with your baby enhance social and emotional development, creativity, and even IQ. Activities for specific ages will be shared and demonstrated. Class content will be geared towards development from birth to age 3. The cost of this class is $10 for materials.
Upcoming dates are:
October 14, 2008 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
at the Eau Claire County Courthouse, WIC entrance.
We also offer parenting workshops.
Guiding Good Choices is a research and skills based program designed for parents of 9-13 year olds. Topics include: ways to strengthen family bonds and reduce the risk factors associated with teenage drug use, and managing conflict.
Staying Connected to Your Teens is a program designed to help parents discuss important issues with their teenagers, build stronger bonds, and reduce many of the risks faced by teenagers today, including those contributing to substance abuse, delinquency, and violence. This program is focused for parents with teens 14-17 years old
Each program is once a week for five weeks with each class running two hours long. The class, materials, catered supper, and childcare are all FREE to the participants. An incentive bag is given to those families who complete 4 or more sessions.
We are looking for families to register and also sites to host the workshops. If you are interested in either, please contact Lisa at frcec@frcec.org.
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Off-Site Services and Rural Outreach
We'll bring our services to you! Work-site seminars, classes or Plan 'n Learn at your site - just call us to make arrangements.
The Family Resource Center provides off site services at several locations in the city of Eau Claire. Parent education classes are offered weekly at the Eau Claire County Jail for both male and female incarcerated parents. The classes provide these parents with the tools necessary to stay connected with their families while incarcerated and strengthen their parenting skills upon release.
Teen parents in the Eau Claire Public Schools meet monthly with a Family Resource Center parent educator to discuss current parenting topics.
Parent Education and Play 'N Learn Groups are provided to residents of the Beacon House Homeless Shelter weekly when needed.
The Family Resource Center Rural Outreach program provides Play 'N Learn Groups, Parents as Teachers Home Visiting and parent education classes to families in Fall Creek, Augusta and Fairchild. Play 'N Learn Groups are held weekly in each community. Augusta groups are held on Tuesday morning at the United Methodist Church. Fairchild groups meet on Wednesday morning at the Mastin Center and Fall Creek groups meet on Thursday morning at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. See Play"N Learn Link for specific times.
 
 
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Parent Coaching
A parent educator will meet with you one-on-one to discuss parenting related topics. This program is designed for those mandated to take classes or those who want additional support and education.
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Play 'N Learn at FRC
A fun interactive time for you and your child! Experience creative learning activities, learn about your child's development, and connect with other parents.
** A suggested donation of $20 per session is appreciated, but not required.
Play 'N Learn Fall Registration
We will begin taking registration for the Fall session of Play 'N Learn on Monday, August 18th at 10:00 a.m. Children will be placed in groups in the order of calls recieved.
Please call (715) 833-1735 to register!
Play 'N Learn at FRC
Session 1: September 9th - October 16th
Session 2: October 28th - December 18th
(We will not be meeting the week of Thanksgiving)
Tuesdays: 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Wednesdays: 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Thursdays: 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
*Play 'N Learn Groups start at 18 months old
Rural Outreach Play 'N Learn Playgroups
Session 2: October 29 - December 13
Augusta Tuesday 9:15 - 10:30 a.m. at United Methodist Church
Fairchild Wednesday 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. at the Mastin Community Center
Fall Creek Thursday 10:00 - 11:15 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church
Winter Sessions:
Session 1 - January 7-February 14
Session 2 - February 26-April 3
  
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Drop In & Play
Drop In & Play is for all ages with a newly expanded play area!
Monday and Friday 9:00 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.
 
 
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MATCh
Mental Health Assistance for Teens & Children
(715) 552-1365 or (877) 216-2824
Free and Confidential
The goal of MATCh is to provide a single point of entry to families that are looking for mental health assistance for their children throughout the Chippewa Valley. Specifically, we do three things:
1. Answer general mental health questions regarding teens, children, and their families.
2. Provide a brief non-medical assessment of the family's current needs
3. Make appropriate referrals to a variety of resources throughout the Chippewa Valley.
We want to empower individuals and families to seek resources throughout the Chippewa Valley promoting mental health!
Here is the MATCh brochure (pdf).
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B.R.A.I.N. Team
(Brain Research Awareness Integration Network)
The Eau Claire B.R.A.I.N. was established as a subcommittee of the Healthy Communities Infant and Child Health Action Team in August 1999.
It is comprised of about 20 area professionals and parents who have an investment in tomorrow's children. Members include representatives from our two area hospitals, the Eau Claire Area School District, University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire, Eau Clare City/County Health Dept., Child Care Partnership, UW-Extension Office, Family Resource Center and others.
These professionals conduct a myriad of presentations on early childhood and teenage brain development all over the county, organize activities for Brain Awareness Week, as well as host an annual spring conference. The Brain Development Project Coordinator works with the Brain Team and with agencies and groups in Eau Claire County to explore how best to integrate the brain research information into the community.
Purpose
Research shows that a child's early experiences largely determine how the brain develops and how the child interacts with the world throughout life. Knowledge of early childhood development is critical to guide parenting and childcare practices that will promote children's reaching their full, lifelong potential.
The desired outcomes from the Brain Development Team project are to provide:
Basic understanding of recent research findings about brain development
Information regarding the implicaitons for parenting and caring for young children
Ideas for promoting positive brain development in young children
Knowledge to help advocate for the needs of young children in Eau Claire County
Fostering Brain Development
As parents and caregivers, we have the greatest opportunity to affect a child's ability to learn in the first years of life. We can actually raise a child's IQ 5 points by creating a loving, stimulating environment for that child when he/she is young.
Babies are born with over 100 billion brain cells. Although some of these brain cells are connected to each other, many are not. But by the time babies are three years old, 80-90% of their brain cells are connected. These connections are needed for babies to learn. You can help make these connections happen!
Children need 8 things for healthy brain development:
(Resources include brochures, fact sheets, and small posters that can be ordered from FRC.)
- Play and exploration
- Reading
- Music
- Interaction
- Sleep
- Good Food
- Security
- Touch
Developmental Guides
We have 11 age-specific developmental guides, one for every three months, from newborn to age five. These guides will help you understand how your child is learning during various stages of life.
Remember that all children develop differently and may not fit exactly in the age group. Look at every special developmental stage they are in and offer many experiences throughout the day. Show them the world. Love children, care for them, and play with them.
To order a packet of information about what behaviors to expect for normal development of children and for activity ideas to nurture this development please contact the Eau Claire Health Department at (715) 839-4718 or e-mail kathy.nuenke@co.eau-claire.wi.us
If you are interested in hearing from the B.R.A.I.N. Team on any of these fascinating and
vital topics, call the B.R.A.I.N. Team Coordinator at the Family Resource Center
at (715) 833-1735. Presentations are offered free or at a nominal cost. They are designed to meet
the time needs and interests of your group, or we can provide information to individuals.
Building Baby's Brain
This class is offered every three months, once in each FRC newsletter. In this class you will learn how positive interactions with your baby enhance social and emotional development, creativity, and even IQ. Activities for specific ages will be shared and demonstrated. Class content will be geared towards development from birth to age 3. The cost of this class is $10.00 for materials.
October 14 2008
6:30-8:00 p.m.
720 2nd Avenue
Eau Claire County Courthouse, WIC entrance
First Years
Did you know that a child's brain development is about 50% nature, meaning the child is born with it, but the other 50% is NURTURE. Babies actually exercise their brains through interactions with people. The experiences you provide for your young child could either slow brain development or encourage it. Are you wondering how you might nurture the brain development of a child in your life?
Teen Brain
Recent research on the teen age brain is revealing fascinating insights into the behavior, potential and vulnerability of teens. Learn about the effects on teens and tips for parenting.
Nutrition and the Brain
Food for Thought: How to Nourish Your Children’s Brains While Feeding Their Bodies! Follow a child’s developmental timeline that helps you make the most of mealtime and builds the foundation for sound lifelong eating habits.
Music and the Brain
Bring your child and play rhythm instruments together. Learn how singing, dancing, moving, and playing rhythm instruments together with your birth to 7 year old child can help boost their brain development. Wear comfortable clothes and get ready to move!
Wednesday, Sept 17th
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Center for Healthy Living (above FRC)
Dr. Brain says:
- Music improves learning and memory.
- Moving to music integrates the right and left sides of the brain. We learn faster when both sides work together.
- Singing songs over and over helps prepare baby’s brain for listening and speaking.
- Learning an instrument between ages 3 and 10 builds brain connections that are hardwired for life.
- Music prepares the brain for understanding math concepts.
Related Links:
Child Development Institute
Learning Theories
Parents Action for Children
Zero to Three (National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families)
WCCF (The Wisconsin Council on Children and Families)
Brain.com
Brain Games
Talaris Research Institute
The New York Times Learning Network
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