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Family Initiative teams up with Family Support Services to provide in Pinellas and Pasco counties

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Family Initiative, a Florida-based nonprofit organization, has partnered with Family Support Services in Pinellas and Pasco counties to provide support to out-of-home caregivers to benefit children in the child welfare system.

Family Initiative’s Family Impact Program supports caregivers in raising children from difficult backgrounds and includes caregiver education and in-home support. The education forums aid caregivers who may be experiencing behavioral concerns in the home or may simply need tools to strengthen their parenting techniques. The in-home services allow Family Initiative’s clinicians to work hand-in-hand with caregivers to assess the family’s needs and create individualized treatment plans unique to each home.

“Family Initiative is honored to be working alongside Family Support Services to increase the support for out-of-home caregivers and enhance the lives of children within the system of care in Florida,” says Leigh Ann Drew, child welfare director of Family Initiative. “We are proud to be expanding our services as we continue to spread the knowledge of Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) throughout the state.”

Family Support Services is a community-based child welfare agency in Duval, Nassau, Pasco and Pinellas counties, that’s primary goal is to assist families to provide safe, healthy and loving environments and prevent children from coming into the system of care. The organization focuses on unifying families, keeping children connected to their relatives and providing quality foster parents.

“We are excited to be partnering with Family Initiative Inc. to provide a solid foundation and natural resources for our caregivers and our staff,” says Fawn Moore, chief innovation officer of Family Support Services. “Quality caregivers are critical to building this foundation in both Pasco and Pinellas County, and we are currently recruiting families to provide temporary care for more than 250 school-age children residing in a residential setting. With the support of community families and agencies such as Family Initiative, Family Support Services can improve lives when crucial time matters.”

To learn more about the programs and services Family Initiative, Inc. offers those in the child welfare system, visit www.fi-florida.org/services/child-welfare-services/.

About Family Initiative

Established in 2015, Family Initiative, Inc. is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to supporting children with autism and strengthening their families. Its team of clinicians serves children from a compassionate, personalized approach through Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Occupational Therapy (OT) services, and offers autism play groups, teen meetings, parent education, community conversations and more. In addition, the organization provides child welfare caregiver training and support through its Family Impact Program. Visit fi-florida.org or find Family Initiative on Facebook and Instagram at @FamilyInitiative and on Twitter at @FI_Inc.

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