Parenting is life’s hardest job. Here is how we help them get it right.
Being a parent can often feel isolating and confusing, like playing a guessing game without the answer key. At Iris Family Support Center, our staff are ready to share solutions and offer time-tested wisdom through programs that serve the full continuum of family life. From prenatal programming to truancy support to intensive family counseling and every chaotic moment in between, there is an Iris program and staff member ready to support families.
We know it can be hard to differentiate between all of the parenting advice out there, so we use evidence-based methods backed by real statistics and data to ensure each family receives the most effective services available. Additionally, our teams work to meet numerous quality standards and outcomes within each program to ensure high quality services.
Making a measurable difference for families.
97%
Improved Parenting Skills
Individuals participating in groups or classes demonstrated improvement in their co-parenting skills as measured through an evaluation filled out at the end of services.
75%
Increase in School Attendance
Students participating in truancy services demonstrated a measurable increase in school attendance and cooperation as evidenced through assessment and partnership with their school after 12 weeks.
94%
Answering Family Needs
Families received at least two referrals answering their family’s needs and increasing their interaction with formal and informal support networks as documented in program database.
100%
Improved Family Functioning
Families in Community Partners demonstrated improved family functioning as measured by administering the North Caroline Family Assessment Scale (NCFAS) after eight face-to-face contacts and contrasting against the NCFAS administered at the beginning of services.
100%
Referrals & Connections
Edinburgh Depression Screenings showing elevated risk levels for post-partum moms resulted in referrals and connections for wellbeing as documented in program database.
100%
Increased Knowledge
Parents who completed the Prenatal Program demonstrated increased knowledge of care for self and child as evidenced through the exit survey.
Impact Story
Helping Parents Find Security
Since becoming a certified car seat inspection site earlier this year, Iris Family Support Center has provided more than 100 car seat fitting and inspection sessions to families with young children.
Our Child Passenger Safety Technicians work one-on-one with parents and caregivers to make sure car seats are installed correctly and, just as importantly, that families leave feeling confident about keeping their children safe in the vehicle.
Recently, one of our Healthy Families clients was concerned that her infant carrier was not properly attaching to its base. She spoke to her Family Support Specialist about it and was referred to our car seat inspection site. Mom and baby came in for their appointment with our Child Passenger Safety Technicians. They were able to figure out that the car seat harness straps had been removed at some point and were rethreaded over a part of the latching mechanism instead of under it.
The Technicians took the straps out and threaded them correctly so the car seat would properly (and safely) attach to the car seat base. The baby now travels safe and secure in their car seat and mom no longer worries about the safety of her child while traveling.
Creating Connections Across Communities
Iris Family Support Center has the privilege of serving more than 33,000 people through 38 Indiana counties. Services are provided at seven physical locations throughout northeast Indiana with our main office building in Fort Wayne, three Family Resource Centers, three Alliance Health Center partnerships, a satellite office in South Bend, and a partnership with the Better Futures Clinic.
Many of these locations are the result of intentional partnerships designed to provide services within communities where the need is greatest. An example of this intentionality of community connection takes place within the Allen County Family Resource Center. This location is housed on the Bridge of Grace campus in the 46806 zip code in Fort Wayne. This campus also houses an Alliance Health Center location, an early learning center, and is across the street from Levan Scott Academy, an elementary school. Our staff also actively partner on location with Parkview Community Nursing to foster connection between this community and medical resources. This results in services that directly meet the needs of the community, such as a Prenatal Program offered in multiple languages or drop-in Wellness Wednesday events and parent support groups. There is a place for everyone at Iris.
Hear From Our Clients
See The Impact In Real Time
Each month we release our Community Impact Newsletter to highlight how our work is making a difference and our upcoming programming. Check out our previous newsletter or sign up for our email list to receive the newsletter in your inbox every month.
