The Child and Family Support Program offers a variety of services aimed at helping families to maintain their children in the most appropriate, yet least restrictive environment. 

Through the development of self-advocacy skills, families working with the program learn to advocate on behalf of their identified Child(ren) in order to gain access to services and build strong a strong network of formal and informal community supports. 

• Learning to navigate the mental health system.
• Understanding and learning to pursue appropriate educational accommodations.
• Discussions with the child's treatment team.
• Working with formal and informal community supports.

Family Activities - Families raising children with emotional or behavioral disorders often find participation in community activities difficult.  The Child and Family Support Program offers at least two family activities each year.

• Annual Family Picnic - held each summer
• Annual Good & Plenty Dinner - held in late fall or early winter.

Family Support Groups- Support groups are open to parents, foster parents, grandparents or any caregiver/guardian of a child 3-18 years old with serious emotional or behavioral difficulties. Family support groups offer:

• An opportunity to for parents to talk, problem-solve, learn skills for self-advocacy and celebrate accomplishments in a mutually supportive environment.
• Parent-run, parent-driven sessions, which are not and should not be therapy sessions, but can be very therapeutic.
• Group respite (childcare) with trained respite providers (one week notice required).

What one parent said about family support group

"...it has been a lifesaver for me to lean on experienced, non-judgemental, informed parents who deal with issues similar to my own."

Phone Support - Family advocates are available Monday through Friday to provide an understanding ear and a wealth of information about servies and supports in Erie County, your family's rights and the mechanics of the system.

Respite - A child'd behaviors can often make it impossible for the caretakers to get a break.  Short-term respite provided by a trained, experienced, background-cleared respite worker can help.  request an application for respite now!

Trainings, Workshops and Conferences - CFSP offers traingings and guest speakers during support groups, and advocates  keep abreast of area presentations to help families enhance self-advocacy skills.  Some past offerings have been Advocacy for Empowerment, Systems of Care, Committee on Special Education, and Medication and Diagnonses.