Head Start & Early Head StartHead Start preschool programs cater to children aged 3 to 5, offering support to both the children and their families.
KidSCopeKidSCope is dedicated to delivering holistic developmental and mental health support for young children, their families, and caregivers.
ARCH Respite NetworkRespite is planned or emergency care provided to a child or adult with special needs in order to provide temporary relief to family caregivers.
FRIENDS National Center for CBCAPServices are provided to the public interested in child abuse prevention through our website and online learning center.
About
Families & Communities Rising (FCR) emerged in 1969 as Chapel Hill Training Outreach Project (CHTOP) under the visionary leadership of Anne Sanford, empowered by a modest grant from the US Department of Education.
This marked the genesis of FCR's mission to cater to the educational needs of children with disabilities, a marginalized segment of society. Fueled by this initial funding, FCR joined a nationwide endeavor dedicated to addressing this long-neglected demographic.
The organization's involvement with Head Start began in 1973 when it was entrusted with establishing a training network for Head Start staff in Region IV.
FCR's commitment to Head Start deepened as it expanded its direct services to families and children within its local communities.
FCR's pioneering work gave rise to the Chapel Hill Model , a comprehensive framework comprising assessment tools, curricula, and strategies fostering parental involvement and family-centric programming. In 1983, the U.S.
Department of Education's Joint Dissemination Review Panel (JDRP) unanimously recognized the Chapel Hill Model as an "exemplary program," solidifying its impact.
In 1990, Mr. Mike Mathers succeeded Ms. Sanford as Executive Director. Previously, Mr. Mathers was the media coordinator for FCR producing training materials to support various FCR objectives.






