Tri-County Family Care Center
Rocky Ford, CO

NEW ADDRESS! (MAY 2008)
512-1/2 N. Main Street
Rocky Ford, CO 81067

Phone#: 719-254-7776 
Fax#: 719-254-7778

Contact: Sarah Dillon, Executive Director 
E-Mail: tricountysda@hotmail.com
Web: www.tricountyfamilycarecenter.org


Mission Statement, Goals, & Objectives
Tri-County Family Care Center (TCFCC) is a "single point of entry" for people from Otero, Bent and Crowley Counties, with general and emergency needs, to find the resources and services available. We are not a crisis center for life threatening situations. TCFCC serves as a networking and coordinating center to connect the various services and resources for better utilization by the community. There are many resources available in the area, but people may not know where or how to access them.

Eight programs are offered to the public with educational opportunities. We strive to break the generational cycle of poverty by working with whole families to positively affect attitude, beliefs and behaviors around parenting, education and health care. By using our services, individuals and families can develop self-sufficiency.

History

Tri-County Family Care Center, Inc. was organized in May 1995 by Sarah Dillon, Executive Director. An office was established by her in January 1996 at 409 S. Main, Rocky Ford, where we are still located.

Program Descriptions:

  • Resource & Referral: Tri-County Family Care Center locates other Otero, Bent, and Crowley County agency resources and obtains information on what is available to meet our clients’ needs. When seeking assistance for situations that may include financial problems, housing, food, childcare, etc., we find and refer clients to the appropriate agency(ies) that can assist them. Each referral is tracked in various databases and follow-up efforts are made, if necessary, by TCFCC employees to ensure that clients are utilizing the resources made available to them. We periodically send out surveys to update and maintain current information on each agency’s programs and services.

  • Newborn Visitation Program / Colorado Bright Beginnings: Home visits are made to positively influence the quality of life for newborns and their families in the Arkansas Valley. We provide parent education to improve parenting skills, information on available resources and support needed by new parents. We are a satellite office of the Pueblo Chapter of Colorado Bright Beginnings. The Bright Beginnings program is dedicated to bringing literacy to children 0 – five years of age, as well as making sure all the resources available to these children are utilized.

  • Parents as Teachers (PAT): PAT is based on the concept that parents are the first and most important teacher to their children. This program is designed to help parents prepare their children for school. It is modeled in such a way that the parent educator is in continuous contact with parents on a monthly or weekly basis, as needed, and provides educational materials to the home or during playgroup activities. The information gathered from each family allows us to tailor the visits and activities to their needs and schedules. We have playgroups in La Junta and Rocky Ford twice a month, and a monolingual group held in Manzanola twice a month for Spanish speaking residents.

  • Child Car Seat Safety Program: We have five certified car seat technicians directly connected to our agency to educate area police, fire, emergency responders and the public in proper use of child safety restraints. Trainings and car seat checks are held periodically throughout the year. Our agency has been designated as a Child Seat Fitting Station by Child Passenger Safety Team Colorado. People can have their car seats checked for safety and proper installation each Tuesday afternoon at our office.

  • Promoting Safe & Stable Families Program: This program is designed to support at-risk families to become stronger and more self-sufficient by attending such activities as parenting and budgeting classes or family strengthening courses.

  • Foster/Adoptive Kinship Parents Program: is a Foster/Adoptive/Kinship Parents Support Group that meets monthly at the Boys & Girls Club for educational opportunities or discussions. Foster Care Core Training and other types of training are offered to assist them with certification hours needed annually.

  • Early Childhood Education: We recruit, train and assist childcare providers with licensing, education and support.

  • Respite Care Program: Providers are recruited for parents with children that have special needs to enable them to take a break or for elderly care.

  • "We Care" Singles Support: Support is offered to single, widowed, and divorced people in living a full and healthy life.