California Family Empowerment Centers

COVID-19 Update: At this time, all Family Empowerment Center (FEC) physical offices are closed. Several valuable trainings, community events, and fundraisers have been cancelled or rescheduled. The FECs have been transitioning their staff to work from home. They continue to respond to calls and handle requests as they explore the best way to provide this vital support. Some FECs are participating in IEP support through video discussions, offering virtual support groups, and producing trainings/workshops through video conferencing or webinars. Parents are encouraged to visit the FEC websites, stay connected, and reach out for information, resources, and support!

Family Empowerment Centers (FECs) were established through Senate Bill 511, then enacted as California Education Code 56400-56414 in 2001. Current funding provides for 14 FECs. 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			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.