National Leaders Convene on Capitol Hill to Advance Family Resource Centers as America's Prevention Infrastructure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 19, 2026 - The National Family Support Network (NFSN), alongside national partners, Family Resource Center (FRC) leaders, parent leaders, researchers, and advocates from across the country, will convene on Capitol Hill for a national Congressional Briefing and Advocacy Day focused on strengthening America's families through upstream, community-based prevention strategies.

The Congressional Briefing, titled "Strengthening America's Families: Investing in Family Resource Centers," will take place on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.

The event will spotlight Family Resource Centers as a proven, bipartisan, community-rooted solution that strengthens families before crisis occurs, helping reduce child welfare involvement, improve family well-being, support workforce participation, and strengthen local economies and communities.

Hosted by the National Family Support Network, the briefing will bring together national experts, Family Resource Center State Network leaders, community-based Family Resource Centers, researchers, and individuals with lived experience to explore how strategic investments in Family Resource Centers can improve outcomes for children and families while increasing efficiency across systems.

A National Conversation About Prevention

Across the nation, policymakers, researchers, and community leaders are increasingly recognizing that America must strengthen prevention efforts and invest earlier in families before challenges escalate into crisis.

Family Resource Centers serve as trusted, accessible hubs where families can access parenting support, economic assistance, workforce development, child development resources, mental health supports, peer connection, and navigation to community services - all within a welcoming, community-based environment.

Today, more than 3,000 Family Resource Centers and over 40 statewide and regional Family Resource Center networks are operating across the country, reaching millions of children, caregivers, and families annually.

Research continues to demonstrate that Family Resource Centers produce measurable outcomes for families and communities, including:
* Reduced child abuse and neglect
* Decreased foster care placements
* Increased family protective factors and stability
* Improved child and family well-being
* Greater social connectedness and community resilience
* Improved workforce participation and economic mobility
* Strong return on investment for communities and public systems

Studies highlighted through the National Family Support Network and its partners have demonstrated returns as high as $4.93 for every $1 invested in Family Resource Centers.

Why This Matters Now

The Congressional Briefing comes at a pivotal moment nationally.

In 2024, Family Resource Centers received formal federal recognition within Title IV-B of the Social Security Act, marking a historic milestone for the family support and prevention field.

At the same time, states and communities across the country are seeking more effective, coordinated, and cost-efficient approaches to supporting families and preventing deeper system involvement.

The briefing will also elevate conversations surrounding the proposed Family Prosperity Act, a state-led federal demonstration concept designed to help states establish, strengthen, expand, and sustain coordinated Family Resource Center networks while reducing administrative burden and improving alignment across prevention systems.

Leaders involved in the briefing emphasize that Family Resource Centers are not supplemental services - they are essential community infrastructure.

"Family Resource Centers represent one of the most powerful prevention strategies available to strengthen families and communities," said Brenda McChesney, Co-Executive Director of Strategy & Impact for the National Family Support Network. "These centers are trusted, community-rooted spaces where families can access support before challenges escalate into crisis. This briefing is about elevating what communities across the country already know: when families are supported early, children, families, and communities thrive."

"Across the nation, Family Resource Centers are helping transform how communities approach prevention," said Julie Matusick, Co-Executive Director of Operations & Engagement for the National Family Support Network. "This event brings together national leaders, researchers, practitioners, and families to highlight solutions that are already working and to advance a stronger, more connected prevention infrastructure for America's families."

What the Congressional Briefing Will Feature

The briefing will include:
* National and state leaders advancing prevention and family strengthening strategies
* Research and evaluation findings demonstrating the impact and return on investment of Family Resource Centers
* Community-based Family Resource Center examples from across the country
* Parent and family perspectives grounded in lived experience
* Discussion of emerging federal opportunities and policy alignment
* Strategies to strengthen prevention infrastructure and improve cross-system coordination

Participants will hear stories and examples from Family Resource Centers serving families in urban, rural, suburban, tribal, school-based, mobile, and community-based settings.

The event is designed to educate Members of Congress, Congressional staff, federal partners, and national organizations about the role Family Resource Centers play in strengthening families and communities nationwide.

Advocacy Day Activities

In addition to the Congressional Briefing, the National Family Support Network and participating leaders will host a coordinated Advocacy Day across Capitol Hill.

Representatives from Family Resource Centers, statewide Family Resource Center networks, national partners, researchers, and parent leaders from across the country will meet with Congressional offices to:
* Raise awareness about the impact of Family Resource Centers
* Share research, outcomes, and community stories
* Discuss opportunities to strengthen prevention systems
* Highlight the importance of coordinated family support infrastructure
* Advance conversations around sustainable investments in upstream family support

Advocacy Day participants will also distribute national briefing materials and data demonstrating the measurable outcomes Family Resource Centers are producing in communities across the United States.

Building a Stronger National Prevention Infrastructure

The National Family Support Network serves as a national leader advancing quality family support and strengthening practices, policies, and systems.

For more than 15 years, NFSN has worked alongside Family Resource Centers, statewide Family Resource Center Networks, parent leaders, researchers, and community partners to strengthen the field of family support and advance equitable, community-rooted prevention strategies.

NFSN's work includes:
* Advancing the nationally recognized Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support
* Supporting statewide and regional Family Resource Center networks
* Training and certifying family support professionals nationwide
* Advancing research, evaluation, and evidence-building efforts
* Supporting policy and systems alignment for prevention and family well-being
* Elevating parent and community voice in systems change

The organization recently launched its first-ever national impact report, highlighting the growing momentum behind Family Resource Centers and the broader national movement for family support.

Event Information

Congressional Briefing
Strengthening America's Families: Investing in Family Resource Centers
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Location: Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.

Media & Partnership Information

Due to limited capacity, attendance at the Congressional Briefing is prioritized for Congressional staff, federal partners, invited speakers, and selected national and philanthropic partners that are directly aligned with the event's purpose.

Members of the media, researchers, philanthropic organizations, and national partners interested in learning more about NFSN's work or the growing Family Resource Center movement are encouraged to contact NFSN.

Those who wish to engage more broadly with NFSN's 15-year milestone are invited to join our virtual celebration, NFSN at 15: Honoring Our Roots, Shaping Our Future, a national gathering celebrating connection, impact, and the future of family support.

Media Contact
Brenda McChesney
Co-Executive Director, Strategy & Impact
National Family Support Network
Email: brenda@nationalfamilysupportnetwork.org

About the National Family Support Network

The National Family Support Network (NFSN) is a national membership organization committed to advancing the future for flourishing families by strengthening and connecting Family Resource Centers and statewide family support networks across the country.

NFSN works to promote positive outcomes for all children, families, and communities by advancing quality family support and strengthening practices, systems, and policies.

Learn more at:
National Family Support Network
www.nationalfamilysupportnetwork.org

This release was published on openPR.