How to Get Help
There are many protective factors that can lead to family strengthening, preventing maltreatment, and positive outcomes for children and families.
By strengthening these factors, we can help ensure safer, more supportive environments. The following resources are available to support families in Florida through the child welfare system and other avenues.​​
FDLRS provides diagnostic, instructional, and technology support services to school district exceptional education programs and families of students with disabilities.
Additional information also available online at www.fdlrs.org
850-245-0478
Whether you need information, help finding child care or other family assistance, you can turn to Child Care Resource and Referral Services at your local early learning coalition.
They can help you find quality child care and connect you with other community resources such as food, medical care, workforce support, housing assistance, creative financial assistance options and more.
Additional information is also available online at http://www.floridaearlylearning.com/family-resources/child-care-resource-referral.
1-866-269-3022
Healthy Families America is a national program model designed to help expectant and new parents get their children off to a healthy start.
Families participate voluntarily in the program and receive home visiting and referrals from trained staff. By providing services to overburdened families, Healthy Families America fits into the continuum of services provided to families in many communities.
Healthy Families America (https://www.healthyfamiliesamerica.org)
Healthy Families Florida is a nationally accredited home visiting program for expectant parents and parents of newborns experiencing stressful life situations.
The program improves childhood outcomes and increases family self-sufficiency by empowering parents through education and community support.
Parents voluntarily participate in Healthy Families so they can learn how to recognize and respond to their babies' changing developmental needs, use positive discipline techniques, cope with the day-to-day stress of parenting in healthy ways, and set and achieve short- and long-term goals.
Circle of Parents® is a growing national network of twenty-nine (29) statewide non-profit organizations and twelve (12) national parent leaders that are dedicated to using the mutual self-help support group model as a means of preventing child abuse and neglect and strengthening families.
Circle of Parents offers anyone in a parenting role the opportunity to participate in weekly group meetings with other parents to exchange ideas, share information, develop and practice new parenting skills, learn about community resources, and give and receive support.
Groups are parent-led with the support of a trained group facilitator, are conducted in a confidential and non-judgmental manner, are free of charge and provide developmentally-appropriate children’s programs or child care concurrent with the parent group meetings.
Developing leadership on the individual, family, community and societal levels, as desired by parent participants, is a central theme of the Circle of Parents model.
Circle of Parents | Sharing Ideas. Sharing Support (http://circleofparents.org)
An information resource equipped to respond to the public’s alcohol, tobacco, and drug inquiries and distribute free or low-cost culturally-diverse prevention, intervention and treatment resources tailored for use by parents, teachers, youth, communities and prevention/treatment professionals. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Additional information also available online at www.samhsa.gov
SAMHSA's National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) TTY: 1-800-487-4889
Suicide Prevention LifeLine: 1-888-273-TALK(8255) TTY: 1-800-799-4889
Parent Support
Access to community programs and counseling services that offer guidance and encouragement for parents.
Toll-free number to apply for food stamps, Medicaid, and temporary cash assistance.
1-866-76-ACCESS (1-866-762-2237)
Additional information also available online at www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/
Provides free, confidential information and referral services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Trained professionals provide crisis counseling and help callers identify and connect with health and human service programs that can meet a variety of needs including food, housing, employment, health care, and more.
Services are available statewide through any cell phone provider as well as through landlines in 58 of Florida’s 67 counties.
Call 211 for assistance.
Additional information is also available online at https://informfl.org/florida-211/
Concrete Support Services
Assistance with essential needs like food, shelter, and financial assistance.
The hotline offers crisis intervention, information, literature, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources.
Professional crisis counselors can provide assistance to callers in 170 languages. All calls are anonymous and confidential. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
Florida hotline determines if the information presented complies with the mandates in law and assists all callers with information and referral to enhance the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable adults. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873)
IMPOWER offers virtual outpatient services to every county in FL. Psychiatric services including evaluations and medication management alongside counseling and therapy can be offered to youth as young as 6+ throughout adulthood. IMPOWER accepts all Medicaid in the state as well as some commercial insurances.
IMPOWER also offers a volunteer residential program and virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for adolescents 13-17 dealing with substance issues alongside mental illness, as well as having a transitional housing program for homeless and foster youth between the ages of 18-24.
Website: Mental Health | Substance Misuse | Child Well-Being Services | IMPOWER (impowerfl.org)
Referral Processes:
Virtual OP Services (for individuals who are 6+ years old)
Phone: (321) 639-1224 ext. 2
Email: referrals@impowerfl.org
Online: Patient Engagement :: Request (insynchcs.com)
The Grove - Volunteer Residential Program (for individuals who are 13-17 years old)
Contact: Kerwyne LaRose, Admission & Utilization Coordinator
Phone: (407) 636-0074
Email: klarose@impowerfl.org
The Village - Transitional Housing Program (for individuals who are 18-24 years old)
Phone: (321) 639-1224 ext. 2
Email: referrals@impowerfl.org
Crisis Support
Resources that offer immediate help during emergencies, such as hotlines, shelters, and counseling services.
Born Learning is a public engagement campaign helping parents, caregivers and communities create early learning opportunities for young children. Designed to support you in your critical role as a child’s first teacher.
Home | United Way – Born Learning (https://bornlearning.org)
Resources on child abuse prevention, protecting children from risk of abuse, and promoting healthy families. Includes information on supporting families, protective factors, public awareness, community activities, positive parenting, prevention programs, and more.
Prevention | Child Welfare Information Gateway (https://www.childwelfare.gov)
Community-Based Care is a comprehensive redesign of Florida's Child Welfare System. It combines the outsourcing of foster care and related services to competent service agencies with an increased local community ownership of service delivery and design.
This innovative statewide reform increases accountability, resource development, and system performance.
To find your local Community-Based Care Lead Agency visit the following link:
https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/child-family/child-and-family-well-being/community-based-care
Covers 33 topics related to the psychosocial development of the child, from conception to the age of five, and presents the most up-to-date scientific knowledge.
Home | Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development (child-encyclopedia.com)
Primarily a tool for professionals operating Responsible Fatherhood programs, the NRFC provides access to print and electronic publications, timely information on fatherhood issues, and targeted resources that support OFA-funded Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Marriage grantees.
The NRFC website also provides essential information for other audiences interested in fatherhood issues.
Strong Florida Moms is where you can access information about what to expect during pregnancy, resources to obtain health care, and answers to many of the questions Florida moms and dads have about parenting. Families can also access community resources such as local support groups with other moms, initiatives that connect to job opportunities, and other resources tailored to their parenting journey. The website is available in English, Spanish, and Creole.
https://strongflmoms.com/
A national nonprofit multidisciplinary organization that offers information, education and support to adults who influence the lives of infants and toddlers.
Parenting Tips and Advice
Practical advice and educational materials designed to help parents navigate challenges and enhance their parenting skills.
Provides children with a safe, caring, loving environment where they gain confidence to get better and learn skills to become productive citizens. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
1-800-448-3000
The mission of FAN is to provide unified leadership to advocate for the development, enhancement and sustainability of innovative, high quality afterschool programs and policies statewide.
850-921-4494 ext. 149