Family & Children's Center

Family & Children's Center Building Strong Families & Healthy Children // Offering FREE, VOLUNTARY parenting education and early education opportunities for St. Joseph County families.

Building Strong Families & Healthy Children

Congratulations to our 2026 Michiana Masters champions, KeyBank! These four athletes played an impressive round and came...
06/12/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 Michiana Masters champions, KeyBank! These four athletes played an impressive round and came out on top of a competitive field of golfers.

A huge shout-out to Graham Leichty, Robert Dhoore, Alex Tsikouris, and Kent Ross, who brought their A-game to be crowned champions of the 2026 Michiana Masters.

Thank you for being part of a day that raised vital funds to prevent child abuse and support stronger, safer families across our community. Congratulations, Team KeyBank!

What a beautiful day on the course. Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 23rd annual Michiana Masters Golf Tourna...
06/08/2026

What a beautiful day on the course. Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 23rd annual Michiana Masters Golf Tournament at Blackthorn Golf Club. The weather could not have been better, and there is nothing we love more than seeing our golfers back out on the course year after year.

A heartfelt thank you to our Iron Sponsors: Carleton, Inc., Gurley Leep, Jonathan McKinnies - CrossCountry Mortgage, Indiana Trust Wealth Management, Midland Engineering Co., Ruoff Mortgage, and True Rx Health Strategists. We couldn’t do it without you!

We are also deeply grateful to all of our team sponsors, hole sponsors, silent auction donors, and on-course food donors. Your generosity made the day brighter for every golfer and helped make this event such a success!

When a family is in crisis, the last thing they need is a waiting list.FCC is proud to offer an in-home Clinical Therapi...
05/31/2026

When a family is in crisis, the last thing they need is a waiting list.

FCC is proud to offer an in-home Clinical Therapist program that meets our families exactly where they are. Whether a parent we work with is navigating severe postpartum depression, working through a mental health crisis, or trying to build a supportive plan to manage day-to-day mental health, our on-staff therapist comes directly to the home. No waiting list. No judgment. No barriers to walk through.

Our in-home counseling program is rare, and it is deeply needed. Many of the families we serve cannot easily get to an office for an appointment. They may not have childcare, transportation, or the energy to leave the house during the hardest weeks of their lives. By bringing care into the home, we remove the obstacles that often keep parents from getting help in the first place.

This life-changing program is generously funded by the Valinhos Foundation, and we are endlessly grateful for their partnership. Their support makes it possible for FCC to offer this care at no cost to the families who need it most.

Learn more about FCC's family programs: www.fccin.org

What does it take to build a strong family?Just like a house, families need a solid foundation to thrive. Love forms the...
05/29/2026

What does it take to build a strong family?

Just like a house, families need a solid foundation to thrive. Love forms the walls and roof, but support systems make everything stronger. When families face rising costs, lack of childcare, unsafe conditions, or limited economic opportunity, it doesn't mean they're broken. It means they need reinforcement.

This video explores how prevention works, through home visiting, mental health supports, and family-friendly policies that strengthen families before challenges turn into crises. Because when we invest early, parents can focus on what matters most: creating nurturing homes where children are safe, healthy, and hopeful.

We all have a role to play in prevention.

Watch the video and learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZy04EmJmdY

Sunshine, mud, grass, sticks, and a whole lot of imagination. To a young child, time outside is pure magic. And it turns...
05/28/2026

Sunshine, mud, grass, sticks, and a whole lot of imagination. To a young child, time outside is pure magic. And it turns out, it's also deeply good for growing minds.

We know that outdoor play helps children:
• Build stronger attention spans. Natural environments reduce stress and mental fatigue in ways indoor spaces can't replicate.
• Develop physical confidence. Running, climbing, and navigating uneven ground builds coordination, strength, and a healthy sense of risk.
• Spark creativity. Open-ended outdoor spaces invite imagination in ways structured toys often don't.
• Regulate emotions. Fresh air and movement are natural mood regulators. Many children who struggle indoors are noticeably calmer outside.
• Strengthen their immune systems. Early exposure to dirt and nature is linked to better immune function over time.

Even short bursts of outdoor time, 15 or 20 minutes, can make a real difference in a child's day. It doesn't have to be a hike or a big adventure. A backyard, a park, or a front stoop counts.

Give your child the gift of outside. Their growing minds will thank you. Looking for more ideas on outside play? Here’s a start: https://mommypoppins.com/kids/outdoors/35-backyard-games-for-kids-to-play-outside

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and at FCC, we know that a child's well-being starts with the people raising them....
05/27/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and at FCC, we know that a child's well-being starts with the people raising them.

Parenting can be tough sometimes. The constant decisions, the financial pressure, the sleepless nights, the emotional weight of caring for another human being. When parents are stretched thin, kids feel it. Stress, anxiety, and burnout don't stay in one corner of the house. They shape how families connect, how children grow, and how safe a home feels.

That's why FCC builds mental and emotional support into our work with families. Our home visitors check in on how parents are coping, not just how the baby is sleeping. We help parents recognize when stress is becoming something bigger. We connect families to counseling, community resources, and judgment-free spaces to talk through what they're carrying.

When parents are supported, children thrive. That's not a slogan. It's the foundation of healthy childhood development.

Learn more about FCC's family programs: www.fccin.org

Every year, FCC has the honor of serving more than 700 families in our community. Families who are working hard, navigat...
04/30/2026

Every year, FCC has the honor of serving more than 700 families in our community. Families who are working hard, navigating challenges, and raising the next generation.

Our latest impact report captures what that work actually looks like, in numbers, in milestones, and in the stories behind them.

We invite you to take a few minutes to read it. See the children who are safer. The parents who feel more confident. The homes that are more stable because someone showed up and walked alongside them.

This work is made possible by our donors, partners, and community members who believe, as we do, that every child deserves a strong start.

Read the FCC Impact Report: https://www.fccin.org/annual-report1.html

Asking for help is one of the strongest things a parent can do for their child.When parents have support, they show up c...
04/28/2026

Asking for help is one of the strongest things a parent can do for their child.

When parents have support, they show up calmer, more patient, and more present for their kids. When they feel alone, stress builds fast and so does the pressure on the whole family.

That is where FCC comes in. Our home visitors are not here to judge. They are here to walk with families through whatever is going on. A new baby. Money stress. A tough relationship. Mental health struggles. Nothing is off limits. Nothing is too messy.

You do not need to have it all figured out before reaching out. The truth is, the sooner a family connects with support, the better kids do.

If you or someone you know could use a hand, we would love to hear from you.

Learn more about FCC's programs for families: www.fccin.org

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, you are required by law to report it. Not just if you are a teacher...
04/26/2026

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, you are required by law to report it. Not just if you are a teacher or a doctor. Anyone.

Indiana law (IC 31-33-5-1) states that any individual who has reason to believe a child is a victim of abuse or neglect must make a report. Failing to do so is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

You do not have to be certain. You do not have to investigate. You just have to make the call.

A few things worth knowing:
• Reports can be made anonymously. You are protected.
• You are immune from civil or criminal liability when reporting in good faith, even if the report is ultimately unsubstantiated.
• You do not have to wait for someone else to make the report.
To report suspected child abuse or neglect in Indiana:
• Call the Indiana Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-800-5556
• Or contact your local law enforcement agency.

One call can change a child's life. Make it.

Learn more about Indiana's mandatory reporting law: https://faqs.in.gov/hc/en-us/articles/115005051327

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and this year, we are asking you to pay attention to a problem that is closer to ...
04/24/2026

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and this year, we are asking you to pay attention to a problem that is closer to home than most people want to believe.

In 2024, 59 children in Indiana died as a direct result of caregiver abuse or neglect. That is up from 56 the year before. Of those 59 children, 71% were three years old or younger. In nearly three out of four cases, the child died in their own home.

These were not isolated tragedies in faraway places. They were children in our state. In our communities. Children who deserved a chance.

This month, we ask every person in our community to do something: share what you know. Talk about prevention. Post about it. Have uncomfortable conversations. Normalize asking for help before things reach a crisis point.

The research is unambiguous: child abuse is preventable. And prevention starts with awareness.

The Prevent Child Abuse Toolkit includes ready-to-share posts, graphics, and conversation starters to help you raise awareness all month long.

We all have a role to play in keeping children safe.

Access the toolkit and share it widely: https://preventchildabuse.org/resources/primary-prevention-toolkit/

Address

300 S. Saint Louis Boulevard, Suite 100
South Bend, IN
46617

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15749689660

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