Program areas at GCJFCS
Children and Family Services - see schedule ochild welfare case management provides protective supervision for children referred by the Florida abuse hotline and child protective investigators. Community-based Services are provided in-home and in alternative placements with relatives, non-relatives and licensed foster care settings to ensure safety, well-being and permanency, including adoption, for an active caseload of over 1,000 children. This project is part of the statewide privatization of state protective Services. Caregiver support provides direct child well-being and home support Services to licensed (level ii) caregivers and children placed in these homes. Includes face-to-face contacts, medical and dental care, psychotropic medications and mental health Services, and any additional needs individualized to the child. Caregiver support managers are assigned to (traditional foster) homes to complete the relational aspects of licensure/re-licensure, to include home assessment, provide support to the caregiver, and ensure stability in the house. Transitional support specialists assigned to children, ages 13-17 years old, placed in licensed settings, and secure independent living and other goals, unique to this age demographic, are met. Diversion/prevention programs provide Family intervention and support provides intensive in-home Family preservation Services and Community outreach with the goal of keeping at-risk children "safe at home." The program helps the Family to identify and problem solve regarding those issues that lead to abuse and neglect; to learn about, practice, and develop proficiency in strategies to avoid, deal with, or overcome those issues; and to teach and model with the Family regarding how to utilize Community resources effectively and to their best advantage. Families at-risk of having their children removed from the home due to abuse/neglect are referred to the program by child protection investigators. Family reunification Services designed to complement case management Services in hillsborough county by providing intensive in-home Family engagement through case management and therapeutic Services to ensure a safe and permanent reunification of the child and Family. Services are designed to respond to individual situations that may include mental health issues of parents and/or their children, substance abuse, and/or significant threats or a recent occurrence of domestic violence in the home. These events impact the Family's ability to provide a safe environment for the child. Family skill builders (fsb) program designed to reduce child abuse, neglect, Family conflict, and child behavior problems. Improvements to Family functioning and protective factors are made by providing in-home therapeutic interventions, case management, parenting education, crisis stabilization, and support. Services are available to families with children ages 0-17 who reside in broward county. All direct Services are provided in-home and/or Community settings at times that are "Family friendly," including evenings, weekends, and holidays with 24/7 staff availability in the event of a crisis. Fsb program referral sources include broward sheriff's office - child protective investigations section and broward schools. Family Services initiative (fsi) provides navigation Services for families in pinellas county, to include access to information, support, and resources, to assist in regaining Family stability. System navigators work collaboratively with the Family to assess, identify, and prioritize a Family's barriers and needs to strengthen Family stability. Provides Services by developing family-centered, strength-based and needs-driven, Family support plans, with Family participation. For families with emergent needs, provide financial resources to the Family so that stability is achieved in a 7-10 day service delivery. For families with more complex needs, provide effective system navigation with a 30-day service delivery. For families needing truancy navigation, focus on reducing school absences and preventing (further) involvement in the truancy court system. Good afternoon friends and amigos (gafa) is an afterschool program that will provide tutoring and homework assistance to scholars from kindergarten to 3rd grade. Parents/caregivers of participating students will be involved in their development and Family activities. Resources will be available to parents/caregivers to help meet identified needs to include home visitation. Scholars in kindergarten through 3rd grade enrolled at identified elementary schools in hillsborough county (reddick and robinson elementary). Healthy youth transitions is a program that targets adjudicated youth, youth in protective supervision, and adjudicated youth in relative and non-relative caregiver living arrangements with significant behavioral and emotional difficulties who require extensive support and individualized Services to transition successfully to adulthood and independence. Through the use of a team approach, program staff advocate, and coach youth in independent living skills. Ages 15-22. Heart gallery of pinellas & pasco provides adoption support for foster care children. Professional photographers volunteer to provide photos of the children which display across website, social media, and physical galleries located throughout the Community in hopes of facilitating an adoption. This program also serves as a resource and liaison for families interested in adopting, celebrates adoption ceremonies at court, and provides post-adoption support through resource sharing, meetings, and events. Kinship support program is designed to complement case management Services by providing direct support to non-licensed caregivers (relatives and non-relatives) of children in the hillsborough county child welfare system. Services are provided in the caregivers' home and local communities. The program utilizes direct Family involvement to develop an individualized support plan to address necessary Services such as case management, caregiver benefit assistance, crisis intervention, and peer support. Support Services are designed to strengthen and stabilize kinship placements to maintain children, requiring out of home placement, with their "Family" versus licensed foster care. Woman-to-woman program is an evidence-based prevention program for teen mothers and pregnant girls from hillsborough county who are at high risk for academic failure and repeat pregnancies. The program provides one-on-one mentoring from trained volunteers, weekend retreats, workshops, parent seminars, and linkage with educational and vocational Services. Violence prevention program is an evidence-based intervention offered in nine pinellas county middle schools to decrease disruptive, aggressive, bullying behavior and substance abuse while simultaneously introducing, practicing, and roleplaying prosocial behaviors that improve academic performance and overall student success. Young adult transitional program in broward county provides support and assistance to young adults ages 17-24, who have serious emotional/behavioral issues or substance abuse and/or persistent mental illness. With the goal of successful transition into adulthood. Transition to independent living (t2il) prepares youth ages 15-22 for living in their Community and targets youth who are "aging out' of foster care.
Behavioral health - see schedule obehavioral health residential treatment system was one of the first pilot projects in Florida to focus on the deinstitutionalization of young adults and seniors with serious and persistent mental illness. Darlington residential treatment facility is a 16-bed level 2 state licensed facility that provides short term (39 month) residential treatment to adults who are 18+ and are diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness and/or a co-occurring disorder. The facility provides access to psychiatric medication management Services as well as psychosocial rehabilitation, individual counseling, and case management Services, in addition to life skills training in a homelike environment that fosters independence and encourages individuals to seek independent living in the Community. The facility receives referrals from the local state hospital as well as the mental health receiving facilities, case managers, and Family members within the suncoast region. Adult residential treatment & stabilization (arts) is a 16 bed level 1 state licensed intensive residential program in broward county for older adults 30+ years of age who have a severe and persistent mental illness and may have co-occurring issues. The program accepts forensic referrals that would be better served in a Community setting, as well as from the local state hospital and mental health receiving facilities. The program provides psychiatric Services, psychosocial rehabilitation, life skills training, and other supports for approximately three months. Adele gilbert residential treatment facility is a 16-bed level 2 state-licensed residential treatment program in pasco county for adults age 18+ who have a diagnosed mental illness and may have co-occurring substance abuse issues. The program accepts non-violent forensic referrals that would be better served in a Community setting. Services include medication management and education, recovery-oriented life skills training, psychosocial rehabilitation, substance abuse counseling, individual therapy, and other supports for up to three or eight months. Alternative Family program (afp) is based on the therapeutic foster home concept of trained sponsors who open their homes to no more than five adults or seniors with mental illness and welcome them into their families. With over 219 beds in 71 licensed care homes covering a 36 county area, sponsors provide 24-hour client supervision, care, and support in exchange for a monthly stipend. Older adults support team provides specialized intervention for elders at risk of suicide. In close coordination with state adult protective Services, this holistic program in broward county provides in home assessment, crisis intervention counseling, and case management with the overall goal of reducing suicide risk. Intervention Services provides substance abuse intervention Services for adults 18 years and older in pinellas, pasco, and hillsborough counties who present with risk factors for substance misuse. This in-home program provides individualized screening, assessment, and intervention through education, short-term problem solving, advocacy, referral, and follow-up to reduce risk factors and the need for more extensive treatment. Prevention program provides educational presentations focusing on the prevention of substance abuse and increasing healthy behaviors in our communities. Current prevention efforts include elder education, social marketing and parenting from prison. The program Services more than 5,000 adults annually in pinellas, pasco, and hillsborough counties. Supported housing/living program assists over 75 individuals with serious mental illness or co-occurring substance abuse issues to live independently in the Community. Services include obtaining affordable housing, developing readiness for work or volunteer activities, vocational job and coaching, and helping to strengthen daily living skills. Services are provided in hillsborough, pasco, and pinellas counties.
Refugee Services - see schedule orefugee Services Florida center for survivors of torture (fcst) is a regional treatment center (tampa bay and miami dade) for survivors of torture and extreme trauma. As the lead agency, Gulf Coast jfcs collaborates with area resettlement agencies as well as the university of south Florida and Florida international university to provide survivors with intensive case management. Through fcst's extensive provider network, eligible torture survivors can access medical, mental health, social and legal assistance Services from providers who have been specially trained by the Florida center for survivors of torture to work effectively and sensitively with this population. Refugee resettlement and placement resettles refugees from around the world who have been persecuted and fled their home country to come to pinellas county with the dream of providing their families with a life of freedom, safety, and liberty. With a goal to help refugees and their families become self-sufficient, Services include case management, housing and household good assistance, cultural orientation, referrals and follow up with a wide range of Community service resources. Refugee preferred communities provides intensive case management and supportive Services to recently arrived refugees facing barriers to self-sufficiency. Services include comprehensive case management and timely access to a wide range of Community resources, employment Services, and health care providers and medical treatment. Match grant program employment program providing Services in pinellas county to help refugees, asylees, cuban and haitian entrants, and special immigrant visa holders (sivs) to become economically self-sufficient within 120 to 180 days of program eligibility. Services provided are case management, employment Services, maintenance assistance and cash allowance. Self-sufficiency must be achieved without accessing public cash assistance. Refugee micro-enterprise development promotes refugee women's entrepreneurship and normalizes business ownership. This program benefits women who have owned or currently own micro-businesses, as well as those with little to no entrepreneurial or business experience, supporting them in navigating regulations and expanding on the skills that are critical to establishing and growing fiscally sound businesses in the u.s. Integrated refugee Services provides social and economic integration Services for refugees who have exceeded the initial resettlement period of six months and have been in the u.s. for less than five years. Services include employment coaching and placement, youth mentoring for academic and career success, as well as comprehensive case management to address a variety of complex needs. Shelter care and wrap-around Services for unaccompanied alien children (scuac) the sc-uac program funded by the us department of health and human Services, office of refugee resettlement (orr), to provide shelter care to unaccompanied children ages 12-17 and in some cases over 6 years of age for siblings until they can be reunited with a guardian in the u.s. The mission of the sc-uac program is to provide a safe, welcoming and nurturing environment for the physical and mental well-being of the children until they are timely reunited with their parents or sponsors.
Training and technical assistance Services - domestic violence technical assistance program is a partnership with a Florida based domestic violence prevention organization to build the capacity of Gulf Coast jfcs to respond to domestic and Family violence clients may be experiencing. The program focuses on policy development, training and technical assistance, working across multiple programs to offer resources for staff at all levels of the organization. Refugee mental health technical assistance develops the capacity of resettlement and other refugee programs across the u.s. to help them meet the mental health needs of refugees. Working with a wide array of subject matter experts, this program promotes research into best practices for the treatment of refugee mental health and ensures that providers have the resources to implement trauma-informed holistic Services for refugees. Voices interpreters & training Services provides interpretation for Gulf Coast jfcs clients who require verbal or written translation to access Services. Gulf Coast jfcs maintains a pool of interpreters with move than 20 language capabilities to assist clients upon request. In addition to providing direct Services the voices training program provides training in how to become an interpreter or translator and market your Services in this fast-growing industry. Economic empowerment Services non-custodial parent employment program assists unemployed or underemployed noncustodial parents in establishing a pattern of regular child support payments by obtaining and maintaining unsubsidized, competitive employment. More than 20,700 unduplicated clients impacting 52,182 children have been assisted since program inception in 1996. The program Services pinellas, pasco, hillsborough, and miami-dade counties. Client & Community Services duke energy utilizes assistance provides once-annual assistance for Gulf Coast jfcs clients in pinellas county who need assistance in paying their duke energy utility bill. Clients have a demonstrated financial need based on the estimated Family income of 200% or more of the federal poverty level. Fuente credito is a micro-loan option available to Gulf Coast jfcs clients and staff who, upon being determined eligible, are matched with lenders to help qualify participants for loans from responsible financial institutions this program helps individuals with challenges accessing traditional credit secure financing for necessary expenses, like transportation or critical home repairs. Micro enterprise development (refugee women refugee assistance program (wrap)) provides refugee women with the training, technical assistance, financial literacy, business training, and access to capital either through micro enterprise loans or credit building loans.
Elder & disabled Services Community care for the elderly (cce lead agency) provides case management coordination for the homemaker, personal care, respite, and other Services to enable frail and functionally impaired elders to remain in their homes and avoid or delay placement in a nursing home. Home care for the elderly (hce) provides subsidy payments to help caregivers maintain low-income seniors in their own home or the home of a caregiver. The monthly subsidy payment is made to the caregiver for support and health maintenance and to assist with specialized health care needs. A special subsidy is a flexible payment that reimburses caregivers for purchases of special supplies, equipment, or Services needed to maintain the health and wellbeing of the senior. Alzheimer's disease initiative (adi) provides community-based Services for the special needs of individuals aged 18+ with alzheimer's disease and related memory disorders. There is a copay fee required of clients receiving Services based on the client's income and ability to pay. Services of the adi program focus on providing respite care for caregivers of persons who have alzheimer's or other related dementia, offering them weekly relief from the constant demands of caregiving. Homemaker assists with housecleaning, laundry, meal preparation, shopping, and companionship to disabled and frail elderly individuals in pinellas, pasco and hillsborough counties. Homemaker Services provide a safe, clean-living environment and avoid or postpone nursing home placement and are available on a fee-for Services basis. Older adult mental health (oamh-pinellas and pasco) Services people 60 years of age or older who would benefit from individual gerontological or mental health counseling Services that can be provided in-home or conducted at senior centers or various congregate meal sites in pasco/pinellas counties.elder counseling Services (vendor-counseling center) provides Services for persons 60 years of age or older who would benefit from individual gerontological or mental health counseling Services that can be provided in-home or conducted at the harvey hertz counseling center. Humana long-term managed care management provides fully integrated care through alternative delivery models with access to providers and Services through a uniform statewide program. The program provides community-based Services in pinellas county to assist medicaid eligible individuals aged 18+ at risk of nursing home placement to remain in their homes, the home of a caregiver or an assisted living facility rather than relocating to an institution because of urgent personal care needs. Myrtle oaks is a 99-unit apartment complex for low-income seniors located in northeast tampa. Sponsored by Gulf Coast and under the auspices of a separate housing corporation, myrtle oaks was funded by a $5.7 million grant from the department of housing and urban development (hud). Egret housing is a seven-unit housing complex for low-income individuals with disabilities located in new port richey in pasco county. Funded by the hud, the project is sponsored by Gulf Coast and under the auspices of a separate housing corporation.
Holocaust survivors program helps to improve the quality of life for holocaust survivors in 7 counties of the greater tampa bay area by providing critically needed, in-home care, emergency financial assistance, case management Services, prescription drug and medical assistance funds, transportation, social events, and other essential Services to present out-of-home placement. A new initiative called "chai" ("life" in hebrew) complements the core holocaust survivors' program by providing senior friendly tablets to survivors allowing them to stay connected with friends and Family by offering additional opportunities to reduce social isolation, like yoga and music classes, and friendly visitors. Emergency Family support Services offers assistance in meeting basic human needs for the Jewish Community in pinellas, pasco, and hernando counties. Program Services also include emergency financial assistance, information, and interest-free college loans. William and sally israel food pantry provide non-perishable food, limited clothing, household goods and school supplies for clients of Gulf Coast jfs clients by appointment and clients of other programs may access the pantry through their case managers or program staff. Yad b'yad (hand-in-hand) recruits Jewish adult volunteers as mentors, companions, and role models for Jewish children ages 6 to 17. The relationship strengthens the Family by enriching children's lives with additional adult influence and support. Chats (companionship, help & access by telephone for seniors) a friendly caller program wherein trained volunteers will "chat" weekly with homebound or isolated seniors to increase their social contact. This program affords individuals an opportunity to volunteer without leaving their homes. Volunteers are matched with participants by various criteria and are expected to contact two older adults weekly with calls expected to last 10 to 15 minutes at a minimum each.