Kathryn Shea
President and CEO of The Florida Center
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Dear Friends of The Florida Center, This has been an exciting year for The Florida Center. Through the immense generosity of the Suncoast Foundation for the Handicapped, we completed construction of our new facility in Northport and opened the door for services with the start of the new school year. With the growing need for early childhood services and supports in South County, our new facility will serve many children and families in their own community. |
Our agency was also selected from among 300 applicants nationwide to present a workshop at the Training Institutes on Developing Local Systems of Care for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Needs and their Families held in July in Nashville, TN. Our behavioral support and mental health team developed and presented an early childhood behavioral/mental health consultation model designed to assist young children with emotional/behavioral challenges in their child care/pre-school setting and their home. This innovative model was well received at the conference and is now being implemented as a pilot project at our centers.
As we struggle with the challenges created at this time of economic crisis, we also look for opportunities to partner with others in meeting the growing needs of our children and families, and we are encouraged by the strength and commitment of our community. As we plan for the future in these difficult times, we invite you to help us build our vision. The work of our dedicated volunteers and staff are testimony to our commitment of improving the lives of children and families with vulnerabilities.
I invite you to share in our hopes and dreams as we build a brighter future for our children and families.
Sincerely,
Kathryn E. Shea, LCSW
President & CEO