Our Work

The Family & Intercultural Resource Center provides intervention services to families and individuals through emergency assistance, referrals and advocacy. FIRC also offers preventative programs through parental support groups, child development education and home visitation.

These programs help to alleviate future homelessness, child abuse and neglect while strengthening families to create a stable and sustainable future. Additionally, FIRC works to bring together the many cultures that are a part of Summit County through education and awareness.

General Assistance Program

Summary

General Assistance served 950 families in the past year through the food bank, clothing vouchers, financial assistance, resources, referral, advocacy, and case management.

It provides one-on-one assistance to families in need and services are available in English, Spanish and French.

The GA program experienced a 20 percent increase in its emergency assistance clients this year and its food bank clients doubled in size.

Need & Beneficiaries

The majority of employment, nearly 72%, in Summit County is in low wage service industry jobs yet the cost of living is between 121% and 200% higher than the average U.S. city, which leaves many families teetering on the edge of poverty.
Even working two or three jobs, some residents may find themselves facing bouts of hunger, a cold winter without heat or risk of eviction.

General Assistance provides emergency help for all families in crisis to help ease such hardships.

Families United

Summary

Families United served over 450 families in the past year: 150 through home visitation, 150 through Colorado Bright Beginnings, and an additional 150 through classes and events.

Families United is a universal education, prevention and case management program available to Summit County families regardless of income or economic status. Services are available in English and Spanish.

Families United also offers Life Skills classes at no cost to families.

Need & Beneficiaries

The high cost of living in Summit County often creates a high stress environment for parents working multiple jobs and long hours. This situation can result in parents lacking knowledge of their children’s normal development and could lead to potential abuse and/or neglect situations. Often, support and education is all that is needed. Families United provides these services to Summit County families regardless of current income or economic status.