History

The HUB Family Resource Center was born out of a community movement. In the early 1990s, the Goals 2000 initiative mandated that every school district develop a plan to support school readiness. Dover's approach to achieving Goals 2000 was the development of the Ready-to-Learn Task Force. Made up of 25 educators, social service providers, parents, and health care providers, the Task Force launched a two-year research study of programs around the country that supported families and resulted in children entering school healthy, developmentally on track and "ready-to-learn".

Using the Family Support model, the task force enthusiastically dedicated its energies to the development of a multifaceted family resource center. In January 1994, the HUB Family Resource Center opened its doors. Despite a blustery snowstorm, two parents and five children stopped by for the first parent-child play group. Since that inauspicious beginning, the center has grown to provide services to more than 900 families each year through weekly parenting and family programs, home visiting services, and programs at satellite locations around the county.

While the HUB began with the focus of promoting early learning and the healthy development of children ages 0-5, over the years the center has evolved into an organization which has embraced a belief in primary prevention. Our programs are designed to build the strength and skills of the family and thus prevent ongoing stress which can lead to child abuse and neglect, school failure, juvenile delinquency, youth violence, substance abuse, and other problems that affect the entire community. Our staff of 25 includes master level professionals. In addition, the majority of the staff have their bachelors degrees in social work or education, and more than 75 percent have more than 10 years experience working with families. The HUB is funded through federal, state, county, local, and private foundation grants, fundraising events, and individual contributions.