Family & Neighborhood Supports

Bay Area Legal Services, Inc.
829 West Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard,
2nd Floor, Tampa, FL  33606
www.bals.org
813-232-1222

Relative Caregiver Advocacy Program
Who the Program Serves:
ChildNet serves families with children, and pregnant women during and after the legal process of family break-up due to domestic violence or sexual/physical abuse of a child.  The Relative Caregiver Advocacy program serves caregivers under the age of 60 who have children placed in their care.
What the Program Does:
ChildNet provides lawyers and support services to children and families affected by domestic violence to protect them from further harm and to help them have safe and stable family lives.  ChildNet is a community-based collaborative (Bay Area Legal Services, The Spring of Tampa Bay, USF’s Child Protection Team and USF’s Harrell Center for the Study of Family Violence) that provides legal and family support services during and after the legal process of family break-up due to domestic violence or sexual/physical abuse of a child. The Relative Caregiver Advocacy Program provides lawyers, support and advocacy for relative caregivers to help them get needed resources and supports for the children placed in their care.

Subcontractors:  Child Protection Team Case Management, The Spring of Tampa Bay, Inc., and USF Harrell Center For The Study of Family Violence

Bay Area Legal Services, Inc.
829 West Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard,
2nd Floor, Tampa, FL  33606
www.bals.org
813-232-1222

L. David Shear Children’s Law Center
Who the Program Serves:
Child victims between the ages of five and eleven going to Mort or Miles Elementary schools and their families.
What the Program Does:
Provides lawyers and social workers to represent the children in foster care or out-of-home placement in order to reduce their length of stay.  The L. David Shear Children’s Law Center works closely with HKI, their Intensive Permanency Team (IPT) and other HKI centers. The Children’s Law Center remains on each case until the children are back with their families or an adoption is finalized.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, Inc.
711 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Suite 300, Tampa, FL  33609
www.bbbsfl.org
813-287-2210

Comprehensive Approach to Prevention Services (CAPS)/
Comprehensive Mentoring/THINKids Program
Who the Program Serves:
Comprehensive Mentoring works with at-risk children/youth between the ages of 5 and 17 who need adult guidance and friendship, as well as children in need of case management services or youth who are ordered to appear at truancy court.  At least 70 percent of the youth served reside in DJJ’s high risk targeted zip code areas.
What the Program Does:
All children/youth are assessed, mentored and a determination of needs made, appointments arranged, coordinated, monitored, evaluated, and provided advocacy for a package of multiple services.  Additional services are offered to all children/youth.  The program provides contacts to community resources to improve and stabilize lives, especially youth involved in truancy court.  The programs work to help families identify and get access to support to improve their lives and lessen the likelihood of the youth’s involvement with juvenile justice.  At-risk youth ordered to appear at truancy court or at risk of delinquency and their families agree to take part in the program and receive services based on their individual needs.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, Inc.
711 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Suite 300, Tampa, FL  33609
www.bbbsfl.org
813-287-2210

Mentor Training Program
Who the Program Serves:
Children between the ages of 5 and17 who are at high risk of poverty, low self-esteem, poor school achievement, and poor social adjustment.
What the Program Does:
Forms partnerships with governmental, business, and not-for-profit organizations that have volunteers that wish to mentor children in Hillsborough County and trains them.  Provides uniform, scheduled, high quality mentor training to volunteers from government, business, and not-for-profit organizations.  The children will be served in either a one-to-one mentor relationship or as part of a group.  Big Brothers Big Sisters also teaches other organizations how to do their own background checks/screenings.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, Inc.
711 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Suite 300, Tampa, FL  33609
www.bbbsfl.org
813-287-2210

Mentoring Children of Prisoners (MCOP)
Who the Program Serves:
Children between the ages of 5 and 17 years whose parent(s) are incarcerated, or have been incarcerated for more than one year in a county, state, or federal prison
What the Program Does:
Provides one-to-one mentoring services for children to lessen their becoming involved with the juvenile justice system. Volunteers are recruited from local companies, professional organizations, colleges/universities and religious congregations.

Corporation To Develop Communities Of Tampa, Inc.
1907 East Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa, FL  33610
www.cdcoftampa.org
813-231-4363

Family Future Fund
Who the Program Serves:
Families who live in the East Tampa area
What the Program Does:
Teaches low and moderate income families what it takes to qualify for a loan to increase their success in renting or buying quality, safe, affordable housing for their families.  This four-week training or one day workshop covers the steps involved in buying a home, how to budget to buy and pay off a mortgage, the responsibilities of owning a home, and the related vocabulary (e.g., escrow, insurance, loan points, etc.).

Devereux Foundation, Inc.
10069 N. Florida Avenue, Suite B-8, Tampa, FL  33612
www.devereuxkids.org
813-915-7101

Devereux Kids Neighborhood Initiative
Who the Program Serves:
Parents with children living in the Sulphur Springs neighborhood.
What the Program Does:
Helps Sulphur Springs residents improve the lives of their families and make the neighborhoods safer for children.  Devereux Kids mission is to get communities interested in strengthening families and protecting children. Devereux Kids identifies neighborhood strengths, builds formal and informal partnerships, increases support and resources and offers programs that teach skills and provide tools to build community capacity.   Devereux serves as the fiscal agent for the Keeping Kids Safe Partnership’s “Wind of Change” campaign which builds awareness of the importance of healthy child development investing in activities and services that support parents and promote child well being.  The Partnership is a committee of local organizations that come together to improve community conditions and develop resources to protect children and enhance their well-being.

Federation of Families For
   Children’s Mental Health of Hillsborough County, Inc.
13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Box 2, Suite 2514, Tampa, FL  33612
www.federationoffamilies.com
813-974-6571

Federation of Families for
Children’s Mental Health of Hillsborough County
Who the Program Serves:
Families whose children have social, emotional and behavioral difficulties.
What the Program Does:
Gives parents a voice in improving the system of care through participation in meetings such as the Children’s Committee, Level of Care meetings, Community Review Teams and other community group and agency meetings attended by service providers.  The Board of Directors of FOF, a family-run organization, is made up primarily of parents of children with social, emotional and behavioral difficulties.  The Federation of Families continues to build a strong family organization that gets parents involved and provides them with help and training needed to be active participants and supporters improving the system of care.  It also focuses on supporting and training families receiving educational and mental health services throughout Hillsborough County

Greater Palm River Point, CDC
7454 Palm River Road, Tampa, FL  33619
www.mypalmrivercdc.com
813-628-9179

Palm River Neighborhood Network
Who the Program Serves:
The Palm River Community
What the Program Does:
Brings the neighborhood together to identify issues, discover strengths and skills, use available resources, and finds additional resources to improve the lives of children and families. This program provides Palm River with a process for solving the human services needs of children and families.  The program improves the ability of the community to care for its children.

Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County, Inc.
2806 N. Armenia Ave. #100
Tampa, FL 33607
www.familysupporthc.org
813-233-2800

Family Support and Resource Centers
Who the Program Serves:
Pregnant and parenting families with young children; however, FSRCs provide voluntary services to anyone in the areas served without eligibility restrictions.
What the Program Does:The Family Support and Resource Centers (FSRC) are a community partnership with the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County and are administered by the Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County.  Managing partners include Bright Beginnings, Catholic Charities, Child Abuse Council, Family Community Advisory Councils, St. Joseph’s Children’s Advocacy Center and The Children’s Home, Inc. FSRCs are designed to help families and communities become happier, healthier and stronger.  Programming is recommended and/or designed by families to assist families and communities.   Core services include:  increasing awareness of health and safety; developing strong relationships between children and their caregivers; and increasing self sufficiency skills.  Information and referral services are available to families and to adults without children.  Community residents recommend what hours of the day the Center should be open.  A mobile component travels to other community locations in the county expanding instruction in self sufficiency, child development, and health and safety.

Subcontractor:  Bright Beginnings, Brandon & North Tampa FSRC, St.Joseph's Children's Hospital, Inc., The Children's Home, Inc., Child Abuse Council, Inc., and Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg, Inc.

Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners
601 East Kennedy Blvd., 26th Floor, Tampa, FL  33601
www.hillsboroughcounty.org
813-272-5843

CBHC/BOCC Neighborhood Mini-Grant Projects
Who the Program Serves:
Neighborhood associations and the communities they serve..
What the Program Does:
Supports neighborhood projects that involve or help children to strengthen neighborhoods and their communities.  A Children’s Board representative helps review the proposals as a member of the Mini-Grant Review Team.  Final reports and payment logs for the funded projects are kept at the Neighborhood Relations Office; copies are provided to the Children’s Board if requested

Hillsborough County Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court
800 E. Twiggs Street, Room 604, Tampa, FL  33602
http://www.fljud13.org/CJC/cac.htm
813-272-7180

Children’s Advocacy Center and Supervised Visitation Program
Who the Program Serves:
Children who are the subject of a child abuse case, have seen a crime, and children who need a supervised visit with family members.  Professionals, court personnel and law enforcement personnel
What the Program Does:
Provides a child-friendly place where children can feel comfortable, safe, and protected from being more upset when interviewed.  The Center provides 1) an impartial, safe place for children who are the subject of child abuse case or who have witnessed a crime to tell their story to community professionals and, 2) to provide an impartial safe site for children to keep in contact with a parent when the child might not be safe alone.  Other services provided include: videotaping interviews, court testimony or depositions, and other appropriate court-ordered, supervised visitation services.  Professionals, court personnel and law enforcement personnel receive training and education about the Children’s Justice Center and the forensic interviewing process as well as the appropriate response to children during the investigation and interview process in stressful crisis situations.

Subcontractor:  supervised visitation and forensic interviews

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay
One Crisis Center Plaza, Tampa, FL  33613
www.crisiscenter.com
813-264-9961

APPLE (Trauma Counseling)
Who the Program Serves:
Children under the age of 18, adults and families who have been impacted by sexual victimization or other forms of abuse, crime or traumatic events.
What the Program Does:
The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay provides services and support for children under the age of 18 who have experienced sexual abuse, assault or other traumatic events.  Services are also available for non-offending family members and children who display sexual behavior problems.  Parents are involved in the treatment process for all children that attend our programs. The Trauma Counseling Center is designed, staffed and equipped to provide comprehensive and coordinated treatment services.  Every effort is made to provide a comfortable, private, child and adult friendly setting that is both physically and psychologically safe for diverse populations.  Treatment interventions are conducted by licensed therapists and are geared directly for all children, adults, and families that have experienced sexual or physical abuse, sexual assault or domestic violence, emotional abuse, or other types of violence in their home or community.  As the Rape Crisis Center for Hillsborough County, this program also provides adult rape and incest survivor services, child sexual abuse evaluations, therapeutic services to children with sexual behavioral problems, and a non-offending parenting education program.

Maternal Child Health Coalition, Inc.
D/B/A Bright Beginnings
203 N. Armenia Avenue, Suite 102, Tampa, FL  33602
www.brightbeginningshills.org
813-281-5535

Network of East Hillsborough Neighborhoods (NEHN)
Who the Program Serves:
Residents of eastern Hillsborough County, including Plant City and its surrounding communities
What the Program Does:
Makes sure that the residents of Plant City and the surrounding communities in eastern Hillsborough County have a mutually respectful group of people with equal decision-making power, but different areas of knowledge and skill, who meet to talk about community needs at the neighborhood level).  The Community residents create the conditions that increase social connections and bring citizens together to shape the social, economic, political and educational needs of the community.  This Network gives citizens a chance to prioritize the services they need most and choose where they are delivered.  The Network focuses on safe neighborhoods, productive schools, neighbors who work together, and others who bring in specially-designed services and supports.

The Network of East Hillsborough Neighborhoods is located at:

639East Alexander Street
Plant City, Florida   33563
Phone:  752-8700

Mental Health Care, Inc.
5707 North 22nd Street, Tampa, FL  33610
www.nlctb.org
813-231-1448

Life Skills Coach
Who the Program Serves:
Families anywhere in Hillsborough County who need specialized services not falling under traditional case management.
What the Program Does:
Relieves the case manager from coordinating specific services such as budgeting/money management, hygiene, and environmental safety issues, and allows him/her more time to pursue other resources for the families. The program lets the agency who sent each family know what progress has been made with written updates at the end of each month.  Additional families can be served through ASO funds.

The Life Center of The Suncoast, Inc.
6811 North Central Avenue, Tampa, FL 33604-5500
www.lifecenteroftampa.org
813-237-3114

The LIFE Center’s Traumatic Loss Intervention Program
Who the Program Serves:
Children, adults and families who have been victims sexual assault, adults and children who are victims of robbery, homicide, assault, DUI/DWI crashes, hit and run accidents, stalking and terrorist attacks.
What the Program Does:
Provides help within 48-72 hours to survivors whose lives have been physically and/or mentally traumatized.  The LIFE Center takes care of survivors’ needs by including personal Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) counseling which is not being provided by any other non-profit agency in Hillsborough County.  The LIFE Center works with children as well as adults, one by one, and within group settings. The LIFE Center has specialized in providing traumatic grief intervention and education to other agencies and professionals for over 26 years,  They are the only non-profit agency available to the community for post-traumatic stress due to death without a fee or waiting list. 

United Way Of Tampa Bay, Inc.
5201 W. Kennedy Blvd.  Suite 600, Tampa, FL  33609
www.uwtb.org/
813-274-0939

Individual Development Account (IDA) Program
Who the Program Serves:
Eligible low-income individuals in Tampa Bay who want to work toward financial stability
What the Program Does:
Provides low-income individuals with the chance to open matched savings program offered by the Assets for Independence Program (AFI) of the Federal Dept of Health and Human Services. The program ensures that families increase their income through credit repair/debt reduction and build savings by working with Free Tax preparation sites and Earned Income Tax Credit programs. Participants set a goal of home ownership, higher education or micro business.  By opening an IDA savings account, completing the program requirements (attending basic financial literacy and asset-specific training), and keeping the account open at least six months, participants will receive a 4:1 match on what they have saved up to $2,000.

Voices For Children of Hillsborough County
655 North Franklin Street, Suite 1303, Tampa, FL 33602
www.vfcgal.org
813-274-0939

Guardian Ad Litem Education Director Match
Who the Program Serves:
Prospective volunteers interested in fulfilling the role of Guardians Ad Litem (GAL) for children in need of a representative.
What the Program Does:
Allows the GAL program to add to the number and quality of training classes for new volunteers as well as provide more consistent ongoing training for current volunteers and staff.  The professional staff and volunteer guardians represent abused and neglected children removed from their homes and involved in Hillsborough County’s Dependency Court.  GAL volunteers and staff, appointed by judges, investigate and keep an eye on each abused/neglected child’s situation.  A child’s GAL volunteer makes sure the child is safe, receives proper care and attention in their out-of-home placement and makes sure that all needed services are in place.  The GAL volunteer also provides a voice for their child in court.

Wheels of Success, Inc.
9309 N. Florida Avenue, Suite 109, Tampa, FL 33612
www.wheelsofsuccess.org
813-490-9443

Eckerd Family Foundation Capacity Building Match
Who the Program Serves:
Low to moderate income working families in Hillsborough County in need of reliable transportation (eligible candidates must be working or have a verifiable job offer).
What the Program Does:
Help families get or keep jobs by providing car repairs, replacing vehicles with the related licensing services, car payments, down payments and car care/general maintenance classes.  Vehicles are bought based on the family’s needs and ability to pay, counting in car insurance, gas and upkeep.  Families receiving vehicles make monthly payments based on their ability to pay and donate a minimum of three hours each month to the organization.