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SRQ Magazine | December 2024, Spirit of Giving
SAFE CHILDREN COALITION
Spirit of Giving | December 2024
SAFE CHILDREN COALITION (SCC) IS THE LEAD COMMUNITY BASED CARE ORGANIZATION PROVIDING CHILD WELFARE SERVICES including Foster Care, Adoption, and Prevention & Diversion programs in Circuit 12 (Sarasota, Manatee, and Desoto counties) on the Suncoast of Florida. It is the only 501c3 nonprofit organization contracted with the state of Florida to provide these services in the region. Our mission is to protect children and youth, strengthen families, and build community. SCC is a unique public/private partnership supported by a combination of generous donors, private foundations, and state and local contracts. Our Prevention and Diversion programs include Youth Prevention Services, Schoolhouse Link, Emergency Response and Assessment Team (E.R.A.T.), Achievers, Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) and more, including the only Youth Shelter serving Sarasota and Manatee counties for teens ages 10 – 17 experiencing homelessness, truancy, and behavioral and mental health crises. Last year SCC programs served more than 9,000 children of all ages. Of those served, more than 80% participated in prevention and diversion programs designed to keep children and families and out of the child welfare system.
SCC’S BIGGEST INITIATIVE IS COMPLETING A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO BUILD A NEW YOUTH SHELTER. After many years residing in a building built in 1959, the youth shelter moved into a temporary facility in March 2023 while the program awaits construction of a new building slated to be built at 4409 Sawyer Road in Sarasota. Since its founding in 1991, the Youth Shelter has provided more than 90,000 bed nights for more than 6,000 homeless teens. In addition to being a safe place to stay, the shelter provides wrap-around services like transportation to and from school; individual, group and family counseling; comprehensive safety assessments; clothing; life skills development; educational support; tutoring; case management; and linkages to aftercare services.
LOSING A TEEN IS DEVASTATING FOR A FAMILY, and it’s a sad day for our community. The potential for a youth to realize a bright future is dimmed. That was *Carly’s story. That’s where the Youth Shelter comes in. Carly’s parents say in their words, “By the time we realized we had lost our daughter, we needed help. Our communication was broken. Family time always ended in loud screaming matches. Carly was uncooperative and de ant. We didn’t know what to do. The youth shelter was our last resort. The caring shelter staff helped Carly manage her emotions. They helped us create structure for our family. Through family counseling and therapy, we learned how to communicate with each other. Now Carly is back home. And family time is enjoyable. If it wasn’t for the shelter, we are sure we would have lost Carly. We are forever grateful.”
Safe Children Coalition, Inc. | 1500 Independence Blvd. Suite 210 | Sarasota, FL 34234 | 941-371-4799 ext. 1127 | development@sccfl.org
Social media:
Instagram: @safechildrencoalition
Facebook: Safe Children Coalition
LinkedIn: Safe Children Coalition
Twitter X: @SafeChildrenCo
