What is PFCD?

PFCD (Partners in Family & Community Development) is a collaborative organization made up of many agency and community partners who are all working together towards a common goal.  This goal is bring about systems change within Bradford County that will not only support those families being served but will also create a positive culture for everyone who resides in the county for years to come.  

History of PFCD

In February of 1996, under PA Family Service System Reform (FSSR), a countywide planning and collaboration effort was initiated in Bradford County, PA.  This Initiative involved social service, human service, domestic violence, educational, employment, governmental, transportation, healthcare, literacy, legal service, criminal justice, housing, and private organizations.

The FSSR Initiative was an effort to support and encourage communities to improve child and family outcomes.  By building on community strengths and using existing funds and resources, a collaborative with local decision making ability was established.  The goal of the FSSR Initiative was to strengthen families in the context of the community in which the families live using a strategy that would build enduring, community-wide, integrated service networks.

This Initiative required changing existing assumptions, vision, and philosophy.  The intent was to move from categorical eligibility to universal access, from a crisis to a prevention orientation, from focusing on weaknesses and deficits to focusing on strengths and assets, from measuring inputs to measuring outcomes, and from an agency to a customer perspective.

This involved altering power relationships and moving toward decentralization, local accountability, and community ownership and empowerment.  Those involved in the initiative had to redefine themselves as public servants and stewards, abandon the notion of competition, and embrace the notion of collaboration.  Family and community participation in service planning and provision, as well as inclusive multidisciplinary teams would result in joint outcome accountability. 

The collaboration came to be known as Partners in Family and Community Development or PFCD. 

PFCD is organized and became incorporated as a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation under the Pennsylvania Non-profit Corporation Law on August 31, 1998.  On October 23, 1998 the Partners applied for and later received Recognition of Exemption under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Partners in Family & Community Development also received designation as a SHIP partner by the PA Department of Health.  SHIP stands for State Health Improvement Plan, which was created to bring about changes in the health of our communities through collaborative efforts of health and prevention focused agencies.

In addition to the three Task Groups, PFCD oversees several grant initiatives including; Bradford-Sullivan Early Childhood Coalition, Bradford-Sullivan Well Weighs Team, Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol and Nurse-Family Partnership. PFCD is also actively involved in several community coalitions.