Family Support Center reports increased use of planned respite and emergency care

Julie Zingin, director of the Grand County Family Support Center, updated the commission on Feb. 3 about services, funding and usage statistics. The center is one of 11 state‑licensed family support centers and one of 17 crisis respite nurseries in Utah, Zingin said.

Zingin described core services—planned respite, family-education classes, crisis emergency care and emergency nursery care—and emphasized that services are available to every family regardless of income or child‑welfare involvement. "We are funded through Grand County… and we have 2 grants, the Family Support Centers of Utah and the Department of Health and Human Services," she said.

Zingin provided usage figures since 2022: 380 children served via planned respite for about 7,525 hours, 52 children served in emergency care for about 11,752 hours, and new-family enrollment rising from 13 to 84 new families. She said the center is using a new CJC space to expand caregiver supports, breastfeeding/new‑mother services and classes, and invited commissioners to tour the facility.

Commissioners asked about geographic reach (planned respite serves Grand County; shelter services have included San Juan) and outreach challenges; Zingin said a persistent obstacle is public awareness and misidentification as a separate national charity. She offered handouts and to collaborate with USU Extension on referrals and programming.