PRC PATHWAYS

FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES

We are grateful for the community support that makes PRC’s Family Support Services possible. Through resources like basic needs assistance, diapers, and short-term emergency support, families continue to find stability, dignity, and compassionate care. Your generosity helps ensure this support remains available when families need it most. We’re excited to introduce a new team member helping lead this work. If you or someone you know may need assistance, please contact us at 507-437-8330.

Welcome, Diane Whalen

We are pleased to welcome Diane Whalen as the new Family Services Coordinator at the Parent Resource Center. Diane brings a wealth of experience in family support, parent education, and community-based programming. 

Diane has a Bachelor of Arts in organizational management and communications from Concordia College and later completed her Master of Arts degree in Adult Education at the University of Minnesota. Her professional background reflects a deep and sustained commitment to children and families. She spent six years with L-O Schools, serving as the ECFE Coordinator, Parent Educator, and School-Age Childcare Director. Diane also worked for nine years with the University of Minnesota Extension Office as a 4-H Program Coordinator in Dodge County, while continuing her work as a Parent Educator. 

Diane and her husband, Pat, served as full-time foster parents in Olmsted County. Their home welcomed six to eight children at a time—children who otherwise would have been placed outside the county. This model supported the transition away from group homes and toward a family-like setting with a diverse group of children. Throughout this work, Diane and Pat partnered closely with parents, providing education and support with the goal of family reunification.

Diane and Pat met in Austin and have been married for 44 years. After living primarily in Rochester, they moved to Le Roy in 2014. Diane shares, “We initially moved here because of the bike trail, the indoor pool, and the beautiful library—but we’ve stayed because of the people, the year-round activities, and because it truly feels like home.  I am excited to reach out, especially to the smaller communities, like LeRoy, in Mower County and offer parents support and education.” 

In her spare time, Diane enjoys baking and spending time with her husband and their blended family.   

WELCOME CENTER

It’s a new year, and the Welcome Center continues to be a welcoming space for our community—ready to provide support, guidance, and resources with care and respect. Whether you are a returning client or reaching out for the first time, our team is here to help you navigate life’s challenges with compassion and dignity.

Families and newcomers can access a wide range of services, including help with applications for employment, school, or public benefits; document services such as scanning, printing, and laminating; phone and email support; and digital literacy assistance. Spanish-speaking notary and translation services are also available, along with referrals to other community resources to ensure every family finds the support they need.

Beyond individual assistance, the Welcome Center helps families connect with the broader community through workshops, events, and outreach programs, creating opportunities to build relationships, share experiences, and feel included. No matter your needs, our team is committed to listening, understanding, and providing guidance so that every family can move forward with confidence.

If you or someone you know could use support, call us at 507-437-8330. We’re here to help—today, tomorrow, and throughout the year.

PREVENTION

The DFC office has seen significant changes in the last month.

Due to a transition period within the Drug-Free Communities Support Program at the federal level, funding through the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is temporarily paused. The Austin Positive Action Coalition (APAC) and the PRC are hopeful to receive further DFC funding again in the summer of 2026.

However, in response to this pause in funding, the PRC is creating a general prevention program. This program ensures that prevention efforts in the Austin area can continue and expand into all of Mower County. The PRC is hopeful that a general prevention program, along with future DFC funds and programming, can increase the positive impacts the PRC, APAC, and Students Taking a New Direction (STAND) are already having inside our communities.

APAC continues to meet monthly and is currently in the process of helping shape the prevention program using their experience, expertise, and inspiration. If you would like to be part of this process, the next meeting is scheduled for January 28th from 12 – 1 p.m. at the Community Action Building in Austin. There is also an online option available for those unable to attend in-person. Or, if you’d prefer to share your insights directly with the PRC, email dfc@prc-austinmn.org.

Our STAND students at Ellis Middle School and Austin High School continue to support prevention efforts through fundraising, volunteerism, and education presentations for their fellow members and peers. Moreover, we’re excited to work with our youth members in crafting a prevention program that resonates with them and reflects their experiences and long-term goals.

If you’re interested in learning more or becoming an APAC or STAND member, please reach out to us at dfc@prc-austinmn.org.