Florida United Methodist Childrens Home Inc

EMPOWERING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO EXPERIENCE THE TRANSFORMING LOVE OF CHRIST THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED CARE AND HOLISTIC SERVICES

THE RESIDENTIAL CARE PROGRAM SERVED 144 CHILDREN IN 2023. RESIDENTIAL CARE PROVIDES SPECIALIZED SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AGES 10 THROUGH 17 IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: (1) TRAUMA TREATMENT FOR BOYS, (2) EMERGENCY SHELTER PROGRAM (WPB), (3) SPECIALIZED THERAPEUTIC GROUP HOME FOR GIRLS, (4) INDEPENDENT LIVING, AND (5) AT RISK GROUP LIVING SERVICES. WE BELIEVE THAT CHILDREN ARE MOST SUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY RECEIVE HOLISTIC AND TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE. TO THAT END, RESIDENTS RECEIVE THERAPEUTIC SERVICES FROM OUR IN-HOUSE CLINICIANS WHO SPECIALIZE IN A VARIETY OF TRAUMA-INFORMED DISCIPLINES. THE RESIDENTIAL CARE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES SERVICES THROUGH OUR ON-SITE WELLNESS CENTER, RECREATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND SPIRITUAL LIFE DEPARTMENT. CHILDREN RECEIVED OVER 10,000 HOURS OF SPECIALIZED CLINICAL SERVICES AND INTERVENTIONS IN PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2023. THE RESIDENTIAL CARE PROGRAM IS ALSO PLEASED TO PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY PROVIDERS AND ASSISTED FAMILIES WITH OVER 1,000 REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES.

SINCE 2002, FUMCH HAS BEEN A LICENSED PROVIDER OF FOSTER CARE SERVICES, AND SERVED APPROXIMATELY 71 FOSTER HOMES AND 166 CHILDREN IN 2023. FUMCH'S MODEL SEEKS TO RECRUIT FOSTER PARENTS WHO SEE PROVIDING FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE AS A MISSION, AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT AND HELP A CHILD FEEL SAFE AND CARED FOR AS THEY GO THROUGH THE TRAUMA OF SEPARATION FROM THE BIRTH FAMILY. CURRENTLY FUMCH HAS FOSTER CARE OFFICES IN VOLUSIA COUNTY, PALM BEACH AND BROWARD COUNTY. IN THESE LOCATIONS WE SERVE TEENS, SIBLING GROUPS, SPECIAL NEEDS INFANTS, AND PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN.THE INDEPENDENT LIVING (IL) PROGRAM PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO YOUTH AGES 13 - 17 YEARS OLD AND TO YOUNG ADULTS UP TO THE AGE OF 26. THE IL PROGRAM FOCUSES ON FOUR KEY COMPONENTS: 1) LIFE SKILLS; 2) MENTORING; 3) EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT 4) AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. FUMCH ALSO PROVIDES EMERGENCY AFTERCARE SERVICES FOR THOSE ALUMNI IN NEED. FUMCH ASSISTED 1 STUDENT WITH SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE TOTALING OVER $13,754 WITH POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION SUPPORT IN 2023. THE ADULT AND FAMILY SHELTER SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 20 YOUNG ADULTS, 6 CHILDREN AND 15 ALUMNI DURING 2023.

ON JANUARY 1, 2019, FUMCH ACQUIRED CIRCLE OF FRIENDS SERVICES (COFS), A NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY HEALTH PROVIDER. COFS PROVIDES SERVICES IN TEN COUNTIES ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA AND THE WEST COAST. COFS WILL CONTINUE ITS RICH HISTORY OF PROVIDING EXCELLENT SERVICE BY GROWING FUMCH'S CONTINUUM OF CARE. OUT-PATIENT SERVICES INCLUDE: INDIVIDUAL/FAMILY THERAPY, INFANT MENTAL HEALTH, PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATIONS AND MED MANAGEMENT, SUPERVISED THERAPEUTIC VISITATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS. FUMCH WILL EXPAND CARE AND PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED SERVICES TO MORE CHILDREN WHO ARE DEALING WITH ABUSE, NEGLECT AND OTHER TRAUMA.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT: THE IN AS MUCH PROGRAM INCLUDES EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN BIRTH THROUGH 12 YEARS OF AGE AND HAS A LICENSED CAPACITY OF 559 CHILDREN. PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO AT RISK AND FOSTER FAMILIES. CHILDREN ARE CARED FOR ON A FULL-DAY OR PART-DAY BASIS. WE CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PRACTICE AND CURRENTLY HOLD TWO ACCREDITATIONS; COA (COUNCIL ON ACCREDITATION), APPLE (ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL PRESCHOOL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS) AND GOLD SEAL THE HIGHEST RECOGNITION FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. FOR MANY CHILDREN THE FUMCH CHILDCARE CENTER, IN AS MUCH, WILL BE THEIR FIRST OF MANY STEPS ON THE ROAD TOWARD INDEPENDENCE, THEIR FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE WORLD OUTSIDE THEIR HOME AND FAMILY. A PLANNED MONTESSORI CURRICULUM INCLUDES: LANGUAGE, GEOGRAPHY, PRACTICAL LIFE, SENSORIAL, CREATIVE AND ACADEMIC ART, BLOCK BUILDING, DRAMATIC PLAY, GRACES AND COURTESIES, MATH AND SCIENCE ACTIVITIES, MUSIC, SPANISH, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN. THE PROGRAM ALSO OFFERS A SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM THAT SERVES AN ADDITIONAL 50 CHILDREN FROM THE COMMUNITY. THERE WERE 1,284 REFERRALS IN 2023.