A second-grade classroom at Mountain View Elementary has been transformed into an information center for parents and families in Natrona County.

The Mountain View Family Resource Center opens today, thanks to a Natrona County School District grant and the help of Mercer House.

Families can visit Mountain View's center and find a variety of resources, including information about housing, health care and schools.

"My hope is that we can be there for families that need resources in the community and don't know where to get those," said Ami Houck, a center advocate.

The centers are part of the school district's Safe Schools, Healthy Kids grant. Mercer House was contracted through the school district to run the centers.

A second center, located at Frontier Middle School, should be open by the end of September. A Midwest center is planned for spring 2009.

In addition to connecting families with community resources, the centers will hold parenting classes and monthly seminars. September's seminar is about online safety for families and students.

Traci Gardner, also a center advocate, said more programs will be developed as the centers become part of the community and schools.

"Because it's a first-year program, there are many possibilities we have," she said. "It's exciting."

The grant's coordinator, Kim Ibach, said the idea for the centers stems from the fact that many families don't know how to connect with the wide array of resources in Natrona County.

"It just made sense to have one place where students and families can access all these different things," Ibach said.

The centers will also work with the school district's at-risk and Transitions programs to check on with students and families, and provide support for them.

"In the past, I'll admit it, we've dropped the ball, because we haven't had the greatest follow-up," Ibach said.

Gardner said helping families with their needs is the first way to start helping children in Natrona County.

"It's important to reach a child through their family," she said. "If we're focusing on families, we can spend time on the child."

The Mountain View Family Resource Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays.

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com.