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Devereux
Kids: Neighborhood Family Centers
Purpose:
Address the
prevention and diversion of abuse and neglect by engaging families in services
that will promote family well-being, safety, and health.
How
do we get it done?
Community Facilitators are working
everyday with resident leaders and community partners to:
- Identify and use existing
resources available but not necessarily accessible to families living in the
target areas
- Connect resources to families
and services to neighborhoods
- Facilitate, network, and
coordinate with other partners and stakeholders to secure additional resources
- Seek out new avenues for
resources and accessibility to under-served communities
Who
are our partners?
Neighborhood Family Centers benefit from the
collaboration of Advisory Councils who have a shared interest in bringing and
maintaining a quality life within their own back yard. Our councils are comprised of dedicated
professionals from:
- Community and faith-based
organizations
- Businesses
- Concerned citizens
What
do they do?
Neighborhood Advisory Councils determine
community needs and establish a sound priority plan to address these
needs. They are instrumental in the
creation and distribution of newsletters and serve as a voice for informing
residents of services and events taking place in their communities. They are the Champion for others.
Where
can you find existing Neighborhood Family Centers?
Since early 2009, Devereux Kids has
established 7 Neighborhood Programs throughout Circuit 5 in Marion,
Lake, Sumter, Citrus, and Hernando Counties. The following partners helped to implement
the Neighborhood Family Centers Project in this area:
- Kids Central, Inc
- The Department of Children
and Families
- Residents of West Ocala,
Leesburg, Spring Hill, Crystal River, Lake Panasoffkee, Eustis, and Marion Oaks
Why
did Devereux Kids Neighborhood Family Centers begin in Circuit 5?
The project was developed after it was
determined that the highest reports of abuse and neglect of children were
coming from these zip codes. The data showed
an immediate need to reach out and help these families. In order to be successful at helping them, we
needed to teach them to help themselves first.
Devereux Kids Neighborhood
Family Centers’ leadership believes and the data shows in order to be successful
in a community intervention project there needs to be a comprehensive community
focus that is community driven and founded upon a strength based community
development strategy. Once this has been
established we can truly begin to address these issues from a prevention and
diversion perspective. |
