Dr. Eilene McIntyre and Penny Lawler initiated a fragile research project called Child Care Networks in 1981. The aim of the project was to help parents of young children develop networks. A child care network was defined as “a number of people all of whom are linked together by ties which contain direct child care or support for parents”. The basic commitment of the child care network steering committee members was to create and strengthen the safety net of neighbors, helpers and friends for families. In 1984 the child care network was incorporated and the name “Delta” was added. Delta, which means where a river breaks into many small rivers before entering the sea, was symbolic of the purpose of the research project and its focus on developing networks for the community of Jane and Finch. It was adopted as the anchor name for the organization.

Delta was blessed to have the commitment and support of many individuals who were true pioneers in developing and refining the meaning of community development, capacity building, social justice and advocacy. The late Dr. E. McIntyre, Penny Lawler, Elspeth Heyworth and Dr. Ruth Morris along with Marie Cerny, Yasmin Khan, Maria deBoer, and Zubeida Somani have all been instrumental in moulding the organization now known as Delta Family Resource Centre.