Stories
In recent years, as congregations have struggled in the face of mainstream cultural norms of individualism and community fragmentation, they have often lost their roles as sources of support and empowerment for families. As a result, the stories that families often tell are experiences of fear, dislocation and isolation. We propose to counter this trend by creating family centers within Tucson congregations, fostering a model of congregations as community centers, sources of information, engagement and guidance for families and neighborhoods. These centers could help to establish a culture of face-to-face relationships that nurtures families, congregations, and neighborhoods – and which stands as a central value of all our shared religious traditions. 

Research
Family centers will provide a needed link between congregational communities and the family support strategies that PCIC and its partners (e.g., JobPath, Pima College Adult Education, CPSA, CODAC, Habitat for Humanity) continue to cultivate in Tucson. In addition to education and job training opportunities, they will provide financial counseling, including access to the Earned Income Tax Credit and alternatives to predatory loans; English classes; citizenship fairs; and healthcare information and services. Family Centers will also draw on PCIC’s experience establishing successful immigrant centers (Casa San Juan at St. John’s Catholic Church in Tucson and Casa Moreno in Somerton). Like our immigrant centers, congregation-based family centers will respond to the multiple pressures now being exerted on immigrant families by providing a site for community-building and information-sharing.

Family centers will not only serve as referral centers. Rather, they will be neighborhood hubs, where cross-generational relationships are built and neighbors identify areas of shared concern and passion. Through the training opportunities provided by PCIC and connections built with neighbors and members of other congregations, ordinary people will have the chance to engage in inquiry, debate, reflection – even argument – about how to address the issues relevant to their lives. Centers will develop strong links with local schools to understand schools’ challenges and the resources they offer. They will then provide a base for parents to hone their leadership skills and support their children’s learning, both in and out of school.

 Family centers will include a strong evaluation component, through ongoing dialogue with congregational staff, parishioners, neighbors, and partners. We will also evaluate the project’s impact on neighborhood conditions such as the rates of family violence, crime, parental involvement in schools, and membership in neighborhood institutions.

 Possible Action Steps
Sacred Heart Parish and other sites have been suggested as a possible family center pilot site. Continue to build partnerships with local agencies, schools, and other neighborhood resources to determine areas of need and strength.
Investigate potential funding sources for family centers at Sacred Heart and other sites. Back to top