The Florida Center For Early Childhood Inc

THE FLORIDA CENTER SUPPORTS THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN, SPECIALIZING IN THOSE WITH DELAYS, DISABILITIES OR MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. OUR MISSION- "TO HELP BUILD AND FOSTER STRONG FAMILIES AND EXPAND THE POTENTIAL OF YOUNG CHILDREN". WE ENVISION A TIME WHEN EVERY CHILD WILL BE LOVED, NURTURED AND ENCOURAGED TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. CHILDREN FROM BIRTH THROUGH TEN YEARS OLD IN SARASOTA, CHARLOTTE, MANATEE, DESOTO AND HARDEE COUNTIES CAN RECEIVE EARLY EDUCATION AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES. SERVICES INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY, SPEECH AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIES, BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT, INCLUSION-MODEL PRESCHOOL, IN-HOME PARENTING SUPPORT AND FLORIDA'S ONLY FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC (AVAILABLE STATEWIDE).

HEALTHY FAMILIES:HEALTHY FAMILIES IS AN AWARD-WINNING EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT, FAMILY STABILITY, AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THIS PROGRAM PREVENTS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AMONG HIGH-RISK FAMILIES. HEALTHY FAMILIES SERVES OVER 700 FAMILIES ANNUALLY IN CHARLOTTE, DESOTO, HARDEE AND SARASOTA COUNTIES, OF WHICH MORE THAN 95% OF CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM HAVE NO VERIFIED FINDINGS OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT DURING THE PROGRAM OR WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF PROGRAM COMPLETION.

EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES:EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS THAT WORK HARD TO ENSURE CHILDREN ARE REACHING THEIR GOALS FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. SERVICES INCLUDE: DEVELOPMENTAL THERAPIES (SPEECH-LANGUAGE AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY) AND OUR AWARD-WINNING EARLY CHILDHOOD COURT PROGRAM, WHICH USES A SPECIALIZED, TEAM-BASED APPROACH TO HELP INFANTS AND TODDLERS IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING THE TRAUMA THEY EXPERIENCE AND ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE A STABLE, PERMANENT HOME MORE QUICKLY THAN IN TRADITIONAL COURT PROCEEDINGS. EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO OVER 480 CHILDREN, BIRTH THROUGH AGE TEN, AND THEIR FAMILIES ANNUALLY.

MENTAL HEALTH/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THERAPIES ARE AVAILABLE AS BOTH OUTPATIENT AND SCHOOL-BASED. THE CHILDREN RECEIVE THERAPIES FOR A VARIETY OF ISSUES THAT INCLUDE AGGRESSION, GRIEF OF LOSS, EXPOSURE TO A TRAUMATIC EVENT, FEAR OF ANXIETY AND HYPERACTIVITY. OUTPATIENT THERAPY IS AVAILABLE AT OUR SARASOTA AND NORTH PORT OFFICES. THE SCHOOL-BASED COMPONENT HAS THERAPISTS HOUSED AT 25 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN SARASOTA COUNTY. THE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM SERVES OVER 2,000 CHILDREN ANNUALLY. IN ADDITION, OUR TEAMS ARE RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD AND TRAIN OVER 1,000 PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ANNUALLY.