Safe Children Coalition Inc

Programs: Child welfare/foster care: the sarasota family ymca pioneered the current foster care delivery system in florida that has been adopted throughout the state. Collaborating with state and community partners the y took care of 2,657 children in manatee, sarasota and de soto counties. The community based care project is known as the safe children coalition. The continuum of services provided include: diversion to prevent children entering the welfare system, early intervention, child/family assessment, case planning and management, coordination of services, family preservation services, child placement in foster homes/residential homes or psychiatric care, adoption services, family reunification services and transitional living programs to assist children on their road to independence.

health enhancement and early childhood development: promoting the development of a healthy mind, body and spirit, the sarasota family ymca connected with over 50,000 people in 3 branch locations. Facilities provide a large range of fitness and social activities to appeal to all age groups. The variety of programs all focus on exercise, good nutrition and social interaction that advance individual and group well-being. Youth programs support healthy character development and the building of self-esteem. Financial barriers to membership are mitigated through the financial assistance program which totaled $278,835 in fiscal year 2017. Early childhood development is accomplished at the 3 branch locations and 6 school sites. Activities include math, reading, art and exercise and character development is embodied through the core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. A combination of child care, youth sports, gymnastics aquatics and camp benefitted over 3,400 children. Financial barriers to program participation are mitigated through the financial assistance program that totaled $155,289 in fiscal year 2017.

youth and family services: services are provided through one residential and two community based programs and an alternative school. The youth shelter provides temporary housing and care for children between the ages of 10 and 18 who have run away, are experiencing conflict, or have been locked out of their homes. The shelter provided a safe place for 220 children in a family-like atmosphere. The children receive daily transportation to and from school and after school tutoring. Each child participates in individual, group and family counseling and a variety of educational and recreational activities. Family management services provided free counseling services to 245 youth (ages 10-17) and their families in the areas of anger management, peer relations, self-esteem, school and home behaviors. The schoolhouse link program is a partnership between the sarasota family ymca and the sarasota county school board and helped 1042 identified homeless students in the county. The program's goal is to ensure that students in transition are able to enroll, attend and succeed in school. Schoolhouse link supports each student by helping create educational stability and by removing any barriers limiting their success. 139 students participated in the ymca triad alternative program that is a cooperative community project developed to help teens improve their chances for future success. It is a behavior modification program using low student to staff ratios, self-contained classrooms, modified curricula, adventure-based learning, and a "whole-student" approach to teaching.

educational outreach programs (eos):a continuum of programs designed to elevate the quality of child care (center-based, faith-based, family child care and afterschool care), education, and family involvement for children from kindergarten to grade 12. Hippy (home instruction for parents of preschool youngsters) influenced 437 children and families by assisting parents in becoming more involved with the education of their children between the ages of ages 3-5. Operation graduation assisted 54 sarasota low income and disadvantaged students to achieve academically and to successfully complete elementary, middle and high school levels. Students receive remedial and enrichment instruction in order to maintain academic standards. Ymca reads! Helped students to close the gap in students' reading performance and the state of florida's reading performance expectations. The program is limited to k through third graders specifically referred by the participating schools, and the primary focus of the programming will be on improving students' reading grade level equivalency. There were 311 students enrolled in the y-achievers programs whose mission is to empower at-risk youth to make and achieve positive goals. The program encourages continuous growth in the areas of: 1. Personal development 2. College preparation 3. Community service and leadership 4. Workforce readiness 5. Recreation. In fiscal year 2017, $134,250 was awarded in scholarships to graduates of the achievers program for continuing college education.