Family Access Network (FAN) is unique to central Oregon, located in all public schools in Deschutes County and in Prineville. Working through a dedicated FAN advocate, a child or parent is connected to essential services such as food, shelter, heating, health care, clothing and more. When a child is well-rested and well-fed, they are more likely to attend and stay in school, paving the way for future success. Learn more about a few of the kids and families FAN has supported over the last year.
What is a FAN Advocate? FAN advocates link children and families to critical basic need services with the goal of keeping children healthy and in school. FAN provides a direct and convenient way within the school to connect children to vital resources. FAN advocates improve the lives of over 9,000 children and family members in our community each year. Need help to connect a child or parent to FAN advocate as a parent, neighbor or teacher? Visit the FAN website with contact information for a teacher or counselor working at each school in Bend-La Pine, Sisters, Crook County and Redmond School District.
Recent FAN supporters include the Maybelle Clark MacDonald Fund contributing $27,000 through a matching grant in 2019. The Central Oregon Association of Realtors donated $2,000 to serve families throughout our region. FAN also received support through the Oregon Community Foundation including $10,000 through three OCF funds: the Robert W. Chandler Fund ($2,500), the Roy & Diane Marvin Fund ($2,500), and the Schamp Family Fund ($5,000) supporting students in Crook County students so that they have the opportunity to succeed.
This year, Brooks Resources Corporation donated $10,000 to support 100 kids with FAN services and we are currently hosting a holiday gift card drive that can help support FAN families during the holiday season. If you’d like to participate and help one or more families in need, please purchase as many gift cards as you’d like in denominations of $50 or less (smaller amounts give the FAN advocates more flexibility distributing cards to various families). While we love supporting local businesses, for this purpose, FAN recommends gift cards to big box stores that offer good value and a variety of items (i.e. Walmart, Target, Fred Meyer, etc.). Gas cards and grocery gift cards are also needed all year long. Please drop your gift card donations to the Brooks Resources office at 409 NW Franklin Avenue in downtown Bend by end of day on Monday, December 9th.
We think FAN is a great way to support the students and families throughout central Oregon and hope you’ll learn more about FAN’s network of support in our community and consider a donation.
