What are Family Empowerment Centers (FECs)?

Family Empowerment Centers (FECs) are nonprofit organizations providing special education training and information to families of children and young adults with disabilities throughout California.

What ages do FECs support?

FECs support families of children with disabilities between 3 and 22 years of age. Families with children with disabilities between 0 and 3 years old can contact their local Family Resource Center for support. Link: https://frcnca.org/

What supports are offered by FECs?

• Specialized training
• Peer-to-peer support
• Information and referral services
• Parent assistance including:
  • How to better understand their child’s educational and developmental needs
  • How to effectively communicate with service providers
  • How to serve as a resource for the IEP process
  • How to participate in school reform and improvement activities
  • How to promote alternative dispute resolution

And resources for supporting positive relationships between parents and professionals.

Services available through each FEC vary based on the needs of the community. Several FECs are involved with additional federal, state, or local initiatives. These initiatives expand or specialize their services and support for families with children with disabilities from 0 to age 26.

Is there an FEC available to me?

There are currently 29 FECs, serving 52 counties, across 36 regions. In 2023, the California Department of Education aims to identify FEC support for the following counties not yet served by an FEC: Humboldt, Inyo/Mono, Lake, Mariposa, and Mendocino.

Find an FEC by County

Information provided by: Seeds of Partnership Project