Our History

Operating with a small budget and a young staff, Family Futures was incorporated in the summer of 1985. At the time we were known as the Kent County Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. Eight years later, our annual budget had only increased to $104,000.

Finally, in 1995 we began to see big changes. We became the Child and Family Resource Council, and our Kent County Healthy Start program was introduced. As our most important initiative, Healthy Start was implemented through a grant that was the largest in Steelcase Foundation history: $1.8 million over five years.

In the following years we grew in capacity, programming, and community services. We published our first Family Resource Guide, an extensive compilation of resources for Kent County families. The Guide is available in both English and Spanish versions.

By actively working with other community groups and helping to define standards for improving childhood outcomes, Family Futures continued to thrive. Our Connections program is an example of what can happen when the right idea is incubated and a community comes together. It continues to grow and now serves about 20% of families with children under five.

In May of 2011 our name was again updated to more accurately reflect our work and our mission. Family Futures is a future-thinking organization. We are fully committed to a preventative approach with families, providing them with information, resources, and support to prepare them for today and for long-term success. 

Working Together

At Family Futures we begin with a desired outcome in mind, then partner with others to move toward that vision. This means collaborating with fellow agencies, foundations, and local government to achieve far more than we ever could alone. Even in difficult financial times, Family Futures has remained focused on what it takes to help families thrive. In short, we define our work through partnerships that respond to a simple question: what will it take for more families in Kent County to to be healthy?

Proven Results

As a results-driven organization we’re committed to data, measurement and evaluation. We monitor several types of measures, including the number of children and families we serve, the quality of our services, and the impact made by our programs and services. By gathering available evidence and data, we continuously learn from and improve our work.

Protective Factors

While parents do their best to prepare for raising a family, few, if any, would claim to have all of the answers. Family Futures helps parents and caregivers from all walks of life strengthen the Protective Factors in their lives. Protective Factors are conditions in communities that increase the health and well-being of children and families. In many ways they serve as buffers, helping parents find resources, supports, and coping strategies that allow them to parent effectively, even under stress. Studies have shown that establishing Protective Factorsdecreases the likelihood of child abuse and neglect.