Community Collaborations to Strengthen and Preserve Families (Children's Bureau Grant)

Community Collaborations to Strengthen and Preserve Families Grant

Funder: Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration on Children, Youth and Families

Geographic Scope: North central Florida (13 counties); PSF is the only Florida recipient

Focus Areas:

• Development, implementation and evaluation of primary prevention strategies
• Improving safety, stability and well-being of families
• Community-based services and supports
• Protective factors framework to increase family strengths and stability
• Decrease likelihood of child abuse and neglect

Purpose

Funds cooperative agreements supporting primary prevention through a continuum of community-based services. PSF was one of only nine agencies awarded this grant nationally.

Planned Activities

• Rigorous evaluation of Resource Center Model
• Establishment of new Resource Center in Lake City
• Expansion of existing Resource Centers (Library Partnership Resource Center, SWAG Family Resource Center, Cone Park Library Resource Center, Tri-County Community Resource Center)

Impact

In 2018 alone, Resource Centers saw over 35,000 visits and provided 46,607 distinct services. Since opening the first center in 2009, data shows a 79% decrease in verified maltreatment rates for zip codes served by Gainesville Resource Centers.