Family advocates’ hours cut; community groups press board to find funding

Lisa Fraser, executive director of the Link Family Resource Center, told the Atascadero Unified School District Board of Trustees the nonprofit will reduce its family advocate services in the district to one half‑time position beginning Aug. 1, 2025.

Fraser said the reduction stems from “significant losses in state and county contracts” and that the Atascadero Greyhound Foundation has provided a grant that offered a temporary lifeline. “As of 08/01/2025, the Link family advocate services for the Atascadero school District will be reduced to 1 half time position serving only Atascadero Middle School,” Fraser said.

The reduction prompted multiple public comments urging the board to find local funding or other solutions. Carrie Collins, director of LINC family advocate services, provided counts of recent work: “they served 219 children and 134 families,” she said, and described advocates’…