Department of Human Services

Division of Early Childhood

Greater Cleveland Family Support Consortium

The Greater Cleveland Family Support Consortium (G.C.F.S.C.) was created in 2003 by Heights Parent Center, Shaker Family Center, and the City of Lakewood Family Room (a program of the City of Lakewood, Department of Human Services, Division of Early Childhood). The purpose of the Consortium is to promote and coordinate family support initiatives that strengthen families and build community.

Family Support Is...

...a type of grass roots, community based program designed to prevent family problems by strengthening parent-child relationships and providing whatever parents need in order to be good nurturers and providers.

The vision of the consortium is to be recognized as a leading resource for agencies and communities committed to strengthening families in Northeast Ohio. The Consortium will actively promote family support and education programs; influence policy and share resources, resulting in healthy development of children, reduced isolation of parents, strong families and caring communities. The Consortium will bring diverse stakeholders together to share, uphold and achieve this vision.

Family Support Principles
  • Staff and families work together in relationships based on equality and respect.
  • Staff enhance families' capacity to support the growth and development of all family members--adults, youth and children.
  • Families are resources to their own members, to other families, to programs and to communities.
  • Programs affirm and strengthen families' cultural, racial and linguistic identities and enhance their ability to function in a multicultural society.
  • Programs are embedded in their communities and contribute to the community-building process.
  • Programs advocate with families for services and systems that are fair, responsive and accountable to the families served.
  • Practitioners work with families to mobilize formal and informal resources to support family development.
  • Programs are flexible and continually responsive to emerging family and community issues.
  • Principles of family support are modeled in all program activities, including planning, governance and administration.