California Family Empowerment Centers

Family Empowerment Centers (FECs) were originally established through Senate Bill 511, then enacted as California Education Code 56400-56414 in 2001. There are currently 14 FECs. The Education Code was amended and additional funding was allocated in 2021 to expand the number of Family Empowerment Centers in California by early 2022. Several centers are a part of other federal, state, or local initiatives and serve families with children from birth to age 3 or specific focused programs. The Family Empowerment and Disability Council is coordinated through the Seeds of Partnership contract, funded by the California Department of Education, Special Education Division.

The FECs provide training and information to families of children and young adults with disabilities, between the ages of 3 and 22. These parent led nonprofit organizations offer specialized training, peer-to-peer support, information and referral services. They aim to assist parents to better understand their child’s educational and developmental needs, effectively communicate with service providers, serve as a resource for the IEP process, participate in school reform and improvement activities, promote alternative dispute resolution, and support positive relationships between parents and professionals. Services available through each FEC vary based on the needs of the community.


FEC Contact Information and Counties Served



Rowell Family Empowerment of Northern California
Shasta, Butte, Tehama, Trinity, Siskiyou, Glenn
www.rfenc.org
530-226-5129 		Map of California showing the counties served by FEC Plumas Rural Service
Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Sierra
www.plumasruralservices.org
530-708-2557
Family SOUP
Yuba, Sutter, Colusa
www.familysoup.org
530-751-1925 		Matrix Parent Network and Resource Center
Napa, Solano, Sonoma
www.matrixparents.org
Main: 415-475-2121
Helpline: 800-578-2592
Support for Families of Children with Disabilities
San Francisco
www.supportforfamilies.org
415-282-7494 		Parents Helping Parents
Santa Clara
www.php.com
408-727-5775 x149
Special Parents Information Network
San Benito, Santa Cruz
www.spinsc.org
831-722-2800 		Exceptional Parents Unlimited
Fresno, Kings
epuchildren.org
559-229-2000
H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection Family Resource Center
Kern
www.heartsfrc.org
661-328-9055 		Family Focus Resource & Empowerment Center
North Los Angeles (San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Antelope Valley)
www.csun.edu/family-focus-resource-center
818-677-6854

The Parents’ Place Family Resource Center
Los Angeles (San Gabriel Valley, Pomona)
www.parentsplacefrc.com
626-919-1091

Westside Family Resource and Empowerment Center
West Los Angeles
www.wfrec.org
310-258-4063 		TASK (Team of Advocates for Special Kids)
Orange
www.taskca.org
714-533-8275 		Exceptional Family Resource Center
San Diego, Imperial
www.efrconline.org
619-594-7416

Note: As with other counties in the state, not all areas of Los Angeles County are served by an FEC.