Who Can I Call?

Natural Systems of Support in Action

Who can I call if I am having car trouble and need help?

This is the question we often ask ourselves here at CHS to explain the importance of having natural systems of support, people we can turn to in times of need. At CHS, our goal is to connect people to natural systems of support through programs that we offer at our four family resource centers in Ceres, Oakdale, Newman and Patterson.

This morning I was asking myself this very question as I suddenly found myself driving on the freeway in the pouring rain halfway between home in Turlock and work in Modesto with a broken windshield wiper. I was in between the two places where I can most easily access my natural systems of support thinking to myself “Where can I go?”

Luckily, I was approaching the exit that I knew would take me to the CHS Ceres Partnership so I got off the freeway and went there. I was so grateful to have somewhere to go to calm my nerves and literally wait for the storm to pass. Martha, a family resource specialist, greeted me with a smile and Charlie, a program coordinator, told me where I could go close by to get the repairs I needed.

The Ceres Partnership and our other family resource centers really are one stop shops for any needs someone may have. From counseling sessions, to emergency bags of food and clothing, to just offering a welcoming environment to wait out the storm and get helpful car advice, our family resource centers can help connect anyone to their natural systems of support in times of need. And I am very grateful for them.

To learn more about the services our Family Resource Centers provide visit: http://www.centerforhumanservices.org/family-resource-center.html