The Norristown Family Center exists for the community. Numerous collaborators including state/local government, the Norristown Area School District, Head Start, private organizations, businesses and parents have joined forces to assist families in providing a safe, nurturing environment with opportunities for learning, growing and achieving self-sufficiency.

Description:
The Norristown Family Center is a collaborative effort to strengthen the family by promoting positive child development/parenting; supporting the family unit; assuring health care services for children; providing seamless, accessible network of services; and encouraging progress toward self-sufficiency. Services are free, voluntary, preventive, user-friendly and performed by dedicated, certified staff. Core program is the internationally acclaimed Parents as Teachers model of parenting education for families in the greater Norristown area with at least one child under 5. Ancillary services include Clean Air for Healthy Children education/counseling on tobacco smoke pollution, Fatherhood Initiative, 21st Century Community Learning Center parent workshops, Reading Is Fundamental book distributions, Parent Education classes, play/support groups, outings, celebrations, toy/book/video resource library, and various other workshops/resource fairs, etc. Although there are no strict economic/diagnostic guidelines for participation, greater than 92% of our clients fall into high-risk categories such as low income, single parent household, low educational attainment, child with disabilities, etc.

History:
The Norristown Family Center began operations in 1994 and has officially served approximately 1700 distinct, separate families representing households with more than 2500 children as of June 30, 2004. We reach another 200+ families each year through brief contacts, teen parent groups, fatherhood groups, workshops, special events and other supportive interactions.

Contact people:

Rita L. Cupingood, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Denise Kahn, Family Deveopment Specialist II, (phone), (email) Delia Trapuzzano, Data Specialist, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (610) 270-8008

Address:

Human Services Building-Rear, 201 East Fornance Street Norristown, PA 19401-3444 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.NorristownFC.org (under construction)

Directions:

From the north: Lansdale or Montgomeryville. Take route 202 south past Mercy Suburban Hospital to Johnson Highway (where road becomes one-way). Turn left onto Johnson Highway and go to first traffic light (Arch St.) Turn right onto Arch St. and continue. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: Rte. 98, DeKalb & Fornance Sts., 3 minute walk For maps or information, please see http://www.septa.com/

Miscellaneous Information

Are court referrals welcomed?
	Yes