LOCKPORT , N.Y. — Finding a place that’s the right fit for your family takes time, so when you find it, you don’t want to let it go. However, families across New York state are going to do just that, with funding reductions forcing the closure of multiple family resource and opportunity centers.

A lot of these centers were run with money that came to the state during the Biden administration.

Those grants have now dried up, and the New York Office of Children and Family Services had to make some choices.

What that means is the couple dozen Family Opportunity and Resource Centers across New York will boil down to eight funded by OCFS and five funded by the state Education Department.

The rest have to find their own source of funding or close.

Those impacted had one common word to explain what could happen: devastating.

“There really isn’t another place like this in the community,” said Joyelle Richter, a special education teacher and early intervention provider.

When you step into EPIC’s Niagara County Family Opportunity Center, it’s all smiles. There might be a sprinkling of chaos, but that’s kind of what they’re going for.

“I think people might look at this space and think, ‘oh, it’s just a play place,’ ” said Ashley Greene, the director for Niagara County Programs for EPIC. “But that’s really how we connect and engage families and get them through the door.”

Opened about two and a half years ago, this place has served more than 700 families, including over 100 for early intervention.

“Everyone that walks through that door is greeted with no judgment, with a feeling of connection, with kindness,” explained Richter. “That is something that is unfortunately rare right now and definitely needed in this community.”

It’s a walk-in prevention hub – with no income or referral barriers – which offers parent education, field trips, diaper supplies and play, all free of charge.

“It gives these children social opportunities that they wouldn’t normally have in the community,” said Richter. “It gives parents a chance to connect with each other, which is extremely important.”

Ask little Alya and her dad Patrick Koch, they’ll tell you there’s nothing like it.

“She’s been diagnosed with severe autism,” said Koch. “Not everybody looks at her and says, ‘Oh my god, that’s an amazing daughter.’ They look at her and say, ‘Why’s she acting like that? Why isn’t she communicating?’ […] Here, they bring it out of her.”

They don’t know what they’re going to do come April 30, when the funds for this place run out.

“We would be at home, a lot,” said Koch. “She wouldn’t get the socialization she needs.”

One family resource center would remain funded by OCFS in each district of New York.

That doesn’t help the families here, as there are not a lot of other resources around.

“A lot of families in the rural communities don’t get the access to the services that they deserve,” said Greene.

EPIC isn’t giving up yet.

They’re encouraging people to write letters of support and contact their local legislators. They’re also looking for donations – or potential public and private partners.

“This model is proven to work and it’s so unique,” said Greene.

And you can’t argue with progress that you can see.

“Without those opportunities, learning stops, growth stops,” said Richter. “So it would just kind of be at a standstill.”

Spectrum News 1 did reach out to OCFS, which noted federal funding for these centers and the “critical resources” they provide dropped by about $3.7 million, adding:

“As federal funds allocated under the American Rescue Plan Act have expired, the Office of Children and Family Services has had to make difficult choices to protect the Family Resource Centers that provide such critical resources to families across New York State. A new, competitive funding process has resulted in a smaller number of Family Resource Centers, but we ensured that there will still be a Family Resource Center in each of New York State’s eight regions.”