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In 1990, a local volunteer-based committee called the Portage and Area Task Force on Adolescent Parents was implemented in an effort to address concerns regarding the lack of support and services available in the community for adolescent parents. The Portage and Area Task Force identified two contributing factors: social service funding cuts and an increasing number of adolescents who chose to parent their children. The Task Force organized and completed a needs assessment in the community.
In 1996, the Task Force used the findings of the needs assessment to apply for funding from Health Canada’s Community Action Program for Children (CAPC). The proposal outlined a program that would provide social supports to adolescent parents.
In 1997, the Portage and Area Task Force on Adolescent Parents became incorporated and began receiving CAPC funding. The Task Force utilized the funding to deliver programs through a Centre that became known to the community as the Young Parents Resource Centre (YPRC).
The Young Parents Resource Centre was a community response to a specific need. Programs and services were developed by the advisory Board of Directors (the Portage and Area Task Force on Adolescent Parents) for teens at risk of becoming pregnant; pregnant and parenting youth; young parents who gave birth while in their teens; or any parent with a child between 0-6 who would benefit from services. Initially, the Centre was located at 110 Saskatchewan Ave West and it had strong partnerships with the Portage Learning Centre, an adult education facility; Child and Family Services of Central Manitoba; Public Health; and the Portage School Division. These main partnerships provided the Centre with referrals, shared resources, and shared programming. Over the years, the Young Parents Resource Centre grew as it responded to the increase in community need and demand for programs and services.
In 2001, the Young Parents Resource Centre became incorporated, received charitable status, and began receiving funding from other sources such as the Portage Plains United Way; Healthy Child Coalition-Central Region; and community foundations and service clubs. The advisory Board of Directors (the Portage and Area Task Force on Adolescent Parents) who were responsible for advising the operations of the Centre began operating as the governing Board of Directors of the Young Parents Resource Centre.
Programs and services continued to grow, and the target population expanded. The Centre’s location was no longer meeting the growing needs of the families in the community. In 2007, the Young Parents Resource Centre entered into discussions with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Portage la Prairie and Child and Family Services of Central Manitoba regarding a partnership that would create a one stop, store front location for families. Child and Family Services of Central Manitoba entered into an agreement to lease 20 Tupper Street North and all three groups worked together to raise money to renovate the building into a welcoming resource Centre.
In May 2008, the Young Parents Resource Centre and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Portage moved into 20 Tupper Street N. In December 2008, the Young Parents Resource Centre Inc. changed its name to the Tupper Street Family Resource Centre Inc.
In 2009 the Board of Directors of the Tupper Street Family Resource Centre developed and adopted the Tupper Street Family Resource Centre Constitution; revised the mission statement and vision of the Centre; and began developing a membership.
In 2009 the partnership with Child and Family Services of Central Manitoba expanded. This partnership, called the Family Enhancement Project, was implemented.
Throughout the next few years, programs continued to grow, and the facility was not adequately meeting the needs of the Tupper Street Family Resource Centre. After many maintenance issues with the Tupper Street location the decision was made to look for an alternative location. Around that same time the former Bingo hall was closed. It was determined that Child and Family Services of Central Manitoba would buy the Bingo hall from the city and renovate it and that the Tupper Street Family Resource Centre would become primary tenants.
In May 2013, the Tupper Street Family Resource Centre moved into today’s location 234 Princess Ave along with Big Brother’s Big Sisters, and Child and Family Services of Central Manitoba’s Family Enhancement Project.
In 2014, a change to our organizational structure was seen with the withdraw of Child and Family Services of Central Manitoba funding. New funding sources kept the organization afloat and many new partnerships were formed.
In 2015, Big Brothers and Big Sisters decided to no longer be tenants at 234 Princess Ave.
In August 2019, a water leak forced us out of the Centre. We relied heavily on our community partners to be able to continue offering programs at various locations in the city. In December 2019, we returned to a freshly renovated building. This also brought forward a timely opportunity for the Board of Directors to restructure the organization and the Military Family Service Centre moved in next door.
In June 2020, the Tupper Street Family Resource Centre Inc. changed its operating name to the Family Resource Centre. In this year the Board of Director’s Constitution was amended, and rebranding was undertaken.
On October 1, 2022, the Tupper Street Family Resource Centre amalgamated with ROK Central Inc in an effort to provide more holistic supports to families. The Portage la Prairie Family Resource Centre now provides services out of 2 locations (234 Princess Ave and Unit #13-545 11th Street NW). Outreach services have continued to grow and new staff have been added to help us support the needs of more families.
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As you scroll through our list of programs, if registration is full, please call to be placed on the wait list! You can also view this video, which showcases how to register for programs: https://youtu.be/ndkKojz86_0