1981: CWU closes Child Lab School after budget constraints declared it expendable.

1983: Early Childhood Learning Center opens.

2002: Dr. Libby Street, CWU Chief Planning officer, convenes ad-hoc committee on childcare to address ongoing unmet needs for childcare on campus and in the community.
Concept of the FRC is born.

2005: Dr. Pat Gross (Family Studies) hired. Dr. Gross is charged to plan, develop, and launch the Family Resource Center. Dr. Gross teams with Katrina Whitney, Director of the Center for Student Empowerment, and Janie Charlton, Director of the Early Childhood Learning Centers.

2005: President McIntyre activates the Spheres of Distinction Grant Program. This is an internal funding opportunity for, “innovative and resourceful approaches to academic, student, and campus life giving regional, national, or international prominence to Central Washington University.”

2005-2006: FRC team applies for a Spheres of Distinction grant to fund a Family Resource Center on the CWU campus. This first request is not funded; articulation of vision is needed.

2006-2007: FRC team successfully reapplies for Spheres grant.

2008: Dr. Jen Krafchick (Family Studies) is the director of the Family Resource Center, and Nan Doolittle (Family Studies) is hired as FRC Program Coordinator.