About The Family Community Resource Center
Our goals:
We strive to prevent families from coming into care, and we help families in care reunite when possible.
We strive to prevent families from coming into care, and we help families in care reunite when possible.
The home should be a safe haven with plentiful guidance, support, and love. Most children are fortunate to experience safe, comfortable home environments, but occasionally situations arise where the child’s well-being is at risk.
As an advocate for quality life for all individuals, we work with at-risk families to provide education about existing laws, court procedures, and case resolution procedures. For families experiencing separation, we believe that children should be placed in a safe, turbulent-free environment during this difficult period. Additionally, we work to facilitate a smooth transition when children are returned to their homes.
McLean County families count on us.
As a liaison between our own Family Support Specialists and families in need of assistance, FCRC collaborates with local agencies and organizations. We believe that by building quality relationships between our clients and participating support networks, an ideal home life can indeed prevail—ultimately encouraging a safe, strong, and productive community.
For more information about our support network, please visit our Resources page.
Our Mission:
The Family Community Resource Center exists to improve relationships between family members, the social service agencies that serve them, and the community through education, support services, and intervention programs.
An Historical View of
The Family Community Resource Center
In the early spring of 2004, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) conducted a Bloomington, Illinois survey.
The survey’s objective was to gather information as to the community’s perception of the Department and its function in the McLean County area. The survey results revealed a need for a “faith-based initiative” program that would help bridge the gap of communication between troubled families and DCFS. July 16, 2004, a press conference was held on the Law and Justice Center’s grounds in Bloomington, Illinois, introducing the “new agency.”
Former director of IDCFS, Bryan Samuels, said, “We want to enhance and enrich the range of services that are available.” In August 2004, the Family Community Resource Center opened for business and had continued its tradition of serving families within McLean County, and throughout Central Illinois.
There were six individuals involved in creating what I believe to be one of the most professional, insightful, knowledgeable, and compassionate social agencies in the world today. Lest I am remiss, aside from myself, are individuals who devoted many hours of total commitment to the birth and development of what is now Family Community Resource Center. These individuals’ names are listed below and should never be forgotten for the unselfish and overwhelming contribution to the birth of the Family Community Resource Center.
Eric Tapley
Linda Foster
LuAnn Ploense
Gabriel Rogers
Belinda Kennedy
Our Team
Belinda Kennedy
CEO
Carolyn Buchanon
Outreach & Resource Coordinator
Andrea Ogborn
Family Support Supervisor
Nikki Williams
Family Support Specialist
Linda Foster
Family Support Specialist
Linda Robinson
Intake Services Supervisor
Tasha Davis
Family Enhancement Specialist
Rev. David Brown
Central IL Men Against Domestic Abuse Coordinator
Board of Directors
Karen Fleming
President
Jennifer Biddle
Secretary
Benjamin Rayburn
Board Member
Rev Brian Preacher
Board Member
About The Founder
Rev Frank L. McSwain
For more thank 25 years, Rev. Frank L McSwain was fortunate enough to develop a trusting relationship with many people in Bloomington and throughout McLean County. As a result, he was able to provide community residents positive guidance concerning personal issues, even during turbulent times. On many occasions, Rev. Frank L McSwain was called upon to counsel families in crisis, including those victimized by domestic violence and other abuses that threaten the family structure. He undertook such challenges one following deep thought and reflection.
Far too often, domestic violence affecting children, also known as child abuse, results in the children being removed from the home and placed in foster care. Many of these children are moved from home to home and, consequently, are less likely to excel in education and in particular life in general. This is less than desirable consequence is obviously devistating to any family and must be avoided.
Through this collaboration, FCRC seeks to improve the relationship between IDCFS and our residents who need services here in Bloomington. This partnership provides:
Through this collaboration, FCRC seeks to improve the relationship between IDCFS and our residents who need services here in Bloomington. This partnership provides:
- Client enrichment through the utilization of available IDCFS resources
- Access to programs and services
- Domestic violence awareness and prevention
Rev. Frank McSwain was an important part of our community. There is no shortage of stories about the many positive interactions he had with those he encountered, counseled, and supported.
He touched many people’s lives—some of their stories you may have heard; others will be told over time, for years to come. And some stories may not mention his name directly, but we all know that he connected with countless individuals throughout his life. Many of these people benefited greatly from the empathy and encouragement he promoted through his work at the Family Community Resource Center.
Rev. McSwain founded the non-profit organization, FCRC, in 2004. His goal was to work directly with families in crisis, and to help preserve the essence of family structure whenever possible. He was particularly concerned about children who were pulled apart from their parents, and how this separation would affect their developmental, emotional, and educational growth.
One person cannot do it all, and no one knew this better than Rev. McSwain. So he built a team at FCRC that shared his sense of compassion, and who understood the importance of preserving the structural integrity of the families they encountered.
Because of Rev. McSwain’s compassion for all people and his commitment to our community, we have built a respected agency that has helped thousands of individuals improve their lives, and FCRC will continue his work to better hundreds, thousands—as many as it takes—more.
Contact us today to learn how!
Be a Volunteer!
The Family Community Resource Center
welcomes volunteers for special functions such as
conferences, presentations, and other events. If
you are interested in volunteering, please contact
us at (309) 821-1616