The Family Center, also known as The South Central Family Center, Inc., is an independent non-profit organization located in Columbia, Tennessee, and is dedicated to empowering individuals to break the cycle of poverty.  The Family Center opened its doors in 1990, primarily focusing on child abuse prevention in Maury County.  In 1999, the focus widened to include emergency financial assistance through the Good Samaritan program.  However, in 2012, our vision changed to crisis diversion of poverty through education, mentoring, financial assistance, and resources.  With our help, families stay stronger longer, communities reap the benefits, and families have a more secure present and future…thus saving taxpayers thousands of dollars! 

The Family Center provides immediate hands on assistance, particularly with crises stemming from poverty. A crisis is defined as an upset in a steady state, a critical turning point leading to better or to worse.     Yes, some families live in “chronic crisis,” and The Family Center cannot cure every dysfunction.  But we can teach families to focus and to find solutions to a limited number of crisis-producing problems, thus helping them feel more in control of their own destiny.  Problems in today’s society tend to snowball, e.g., unemployment, inability to pay bills, problems with the landlord, marital issues, parental malpractices, utility disconnect.  Any new stress becomes the proverbial “straw that breaks the camel’s back.”  The Family Center’s focus is to restore stability and to teach families how to solve problems, not solving the problems for them.  Our crisis intervention will typically last 4-6 weeks, hopefully preventing a further breakdown in the family system. 

The Family Center has grown substantially in its efforts to aid the community.  Year after year we have been able to assist more families.  Our emergency financial assistance increased by 32% this year, and our pantry continues to be the anchor in the storm for families suffering from food insecurity.  In other words, we are the “hub” of outreach in the community.

We have partnered over the years with individuals, organizations, businesses, and churches…and we could not have done it without them all!  Through these years, we have been and continue to be a United Way of Maury County agency.  With all that has come before and looking forward to all that is to come, we as staff and board members look forward to serving Maury County for many years.  Thank you for being an integral part of our story.

The Family Center is a United Way Agency.  We are funded by Tennessee Department of Children's Services Community Based Child Abuse Prevention grant, businesses, generous donors, and grants. Several Maury County churches, businesses, civic clubs, and individuals have allowed us to succeed with twenty years of service.