Situational instability in a family’s life brings a greater need for community support. The FCRC seeks to offer a sense of community and an abundance of resources so we can fulfill our common goal as a school district for ALL students to thrive. When we lift others up, we all rise together!

FCRC Location & Hours

The FCRC is located inside the Jack, Will & Rob (JWR) Center
2033 NE Ione St., Camas, WA, 98607
Call to make an appointment during our business hours: 360-833-5612
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

 

FCRC Resources Offered

Each family’s situation is different so we won’t expect that all the needs will be the same either.  Families are the best determiner of well-being for themselves. Read the Camas-CARES-FCRC-Vision-Statement and let’s have a conversation about what supports make the most sense to you. We are here to serve you and your identified needs to the best of our ability.

Commonly, at the Resource Center, located inside Jack, Will, and Rob, there are clean and nearly new seasonal clothing in a variety of sizes, shoes, coats, hygiene items and of course, school supplies. However, our resources extend beyond what meets the eye … so we provide a Camas Cares survey of each family’s unique needs so we can work to resource them as well.

Community Resource Guide

The CSD Family Resource Guide is full of current and accurate contact information for essential items and services, including medical, legal, and employment services; housing and shelters; financial and governmental assistance, and more. But, even more importantly than these essential community resources is your relationship with the FCRC who can help you navigate the options.

Click for the CSD-FamilyResourceGuide-Oct2022

Ways You Can Help!

Please read Camas-CARES-FCRC-Vision-Statement to discover what resources are offered and ways you can participate in meeting the self-identified needs of our community’s families. The needs and opportunities will change based on the unique situations of our families – so keep up to date by reading our updates in Parent Square or following Camas FCRC on Instagram and/or Facebook.

There are 3 ways to contribute financially to the FCRC. Financial contributions will be used toward the three greatest needs listed below:

1. Housing Stability: The FCRC partners with Family Promise who offers stability programs and helps to determine both the need and the success factor of providing rent assistance. Read about Stability First Rental Assistance Program.  This is an essential program to ensure students remain stable in their housing to finish their education, one of the best ways to ensure future stability. Donations for this program are made out to C-W Children’s Fund with the Memo: Housing and mailed to Camas School District Attn: FCRC / Brenda Schallberger, 841 NE 22nd Avenue  98607.

2. Essential Needs: This program provides for the needs of students and their families such as food and clothing and other items that allow for a child to thrive during a situational hardship. Grocery/Retail gift cards as well as donations by check for this program are made out to CSD – FCRC and mailed to Camas School District Attn: FCRC / Brenda Schallberger, 841 NE 22nd Avenue  98607.

3. Transportation Assistance:  Once in awhile the best option is a Gas Card. When the FCRC provides a Gas Card, a receipt and attendance records are required before reissuing. This program ensures student attendance when use of public transportation isn’t feasible as well as for strapped parents to get to medical appointments and to and from work or job search on a case by case basis. Donations to the Gift Card program is essential for meeting families with unique needs, not covered by other resources. Gift cards can be dropped off directly to Brenda at the JWR/FCRC, 2033 NE Ione Street.

Please come by to meet me at the FCRC! And thank you for your participation in these important community supports!

Brenda Schallberger
Family Community Resource Coordinator, McKinney-Vento and Foster Care Liaison

Brenda.Schallberger@camas.wednet.edu
phone: 360-833-5612

Local Food Resources

There are many ways to ensure food security for your family!

Local Food Resources

  1. The FCRC, located at 2033 NE Ione Street, is open weekly Mon-Fri from 8:30am to 4:30pm (except for school holidays). You will find an assortment of pantry and fresh food items to choose from.
  2. Enroll in Washington’s Basic Food Program. The  link provides the income qualifying amounts based on family size along with the application.
  3. To participate in the CSD FREE and Reduced Lunch program inquire with Nutrition Services or download and complete the application here: English or Espanol.
  4. Contact your student’s school building counselor if your family could use a little extra food over the weekend. The Weekend Food Backpack Program is operated by the Inter-Faith Treasure House and a pre-selected amount of food goes home with one of your students every Friday.
  5. The C-W Treasure House provides weekly food boxes to local residents. Simply show up at 91 C Street, Washougal, WA 98607,  M-F between 10am and 2pm, to fill out a simple form and the food box will be brought out to you. It usually includes meat and a variety of pantry items. Fresh baked products are also readily available to self-select.
  6. The C-W Salvation Army also provides monthly food boxes, which includes appropriate amounts determined by family size. Weekly on Tuesdays there is a USDA delivery when cheese, milk, yogurt and fresh produce is stocked. Email Kendra Taggart to enroll.

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

If you are currently living in a motel or campground due to the lack of an alternative permanent accommodation or in a car, park, abandoned building or bus or train station or doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship, you may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-VEnto Act.

Eligible students have the right to:

  • Receive a free, appropriate public education.
  • Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment
  • Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.
  • Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is their preference. (If the school district believes that the school selected is not in his/her best interest, then the district must provide the student with a written explanation of its position and inform the student of his/her right to appeal its decision.)
  • Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested.
  • Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to the students’ needs.
  • Contact Brenda Schallberger (CSD McKinney-Vento Liaison) if you believe you may be eligible, brenda.schallberger@camas.wednet.edu.

If you need further assistance for these needs, contact the National Center for Homeless Education: 1-800-308-2145

Housing Assistance Flyers in Other Languages:

For Full Program Details

Visit the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act page here.

Foster Care

Camas School District works with a variety of schools, child welfare agencies, communities, and families. We must work together to provide equitable opportunities, specialized services, and useful supports that are essential for students in foster care to be successful in school and in life. Together, we strive to support the whole child through evidence-based, best-practices, and collaboration.

Guided by the Foster Care Education Program, Camas School District supports students in foster care by encouraging innovative practices that reduce educational disruptions, strengthen school stability, and improve academic performance.

Eligibility

Students eligible for the Foster Care Program are children who are placed away from the care of their parents or guardians in 24-hour per day temporary, substitute care under the responsibility of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Program eligibility continues as long as a student remains in foster care, including the event of a change in foster care placement.

Educational Rights of Students in Foster Care

  • To reduce disruption, strengthen stability, and improve academic performance, students in foster care are entitled to:
  • Maintain enrollment in the school of origin if that is in the best interest of the student (School of Origin is the school attended when foster care began or at the time of a foster placement change).
  • Receive a free, appropriate education.
  • Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.
  • Receive transportation, if necessary, to and from the school of origin.
  • Qualify for Free & Reduced Lunch Program.
  • Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to the student’s needs.
  • Receive academic and attendance support to promote positive educational advancement.

Questions?

Brenda Schallberger, FCRC Coordinator and McKinney-Vento/Foster Care Liaison, at Brenda.Schallberger@camas.wednet.edu  or 360-833-5612 or, the Special Services Department at 360-833-5571.