What are Natural Supports?
Natural supports are services that are available to families that exist in the community. These supports are derived from:
- Faith-based communities
- Many faith-based community offer a host of supports that families can use to help address some of the needs of the family (i.e., counseling, mentors, youth group involvement, distribution of clothes, food, furniture, tutors, youth activities, community involvement, friendship, support, etc.).
- Community based supports
- Many of the community centers and after school programs provide valuable support to families in various areas. They can assist families with locating economical summer camp programs which could serve as day care for some youth; after school programs have activities for youth where assistance to some families is needed for them to work past normal school hours; many youth services are provided in after school programs.
- Family supports
- Sometimes families do not recognize the level of supports they have within their own families or network of friends. By utlizing their own supports help to provide strength to the family and particularly to the parents. Often, family members will provide help when asked and many families have created extended families where more supports are available to help parent in their daily lives. Additionally, there are family support centers located throughout Erie County where parents can meet to discuss some of their experiences with other parents who understands their situation.
When a family utlizes natural supports they rely less on formal supports and this empowers families to take an active role in determining creative solutions to address their family needs. However, sometimes formal supports are needs and families need help with address their families’ needs.