Family resource centres hope to increase their role in Irish society and become an essential player in the social partnership process.
At the family resource centre national forum today, chairperson Packie Kelly said: "Since 1998 with the establishment of our National Forum, we have created a model for collaboration and communication across 89 family resource centres.
"By 2009, we expect to have strengthened our voice and role to such an extent that we will be considered as an essential player in the social partnership process".
The Minister for Social Affairs, Séamus Brennan, was also at the launch of the fourm's three-year strategy paper entitled Supporting Families - Building Communities 2006-2009.
Mr Brennan praised the centres for their "pivotal role" in reaching out to the vulnerable and marginalised in our society.
Mr Brennan said the centres "have an increasing role to play in helping to addressing the needs of men, women and children in their locality who are experiencing particularly stressful times in their lives, including the risk of income poverty" .
The aim of centres is to combat disadvantage by improving the functioning of the family unit. Centres provide special services for lone parent families, young mothers and others considered in need of extra support.
There are currently 89 family resource centres operating throughout the State, a figure that will rise to 100 by the end of the year.
