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The theme for Safe Children Coalition this year is Change Happens Here. This theme rings true in almost every aspect of the organization, from new programs for parents and children to an expanded mission statement that now includes young adults.
If you’re not familiar with Safe Children Coalition (SCC), it’s the community-based care agency for Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. Its services include Foster Care, Adoptions, and Prevention and Diversion programs including programs for homeless youth, many dealing with significant mental health issues.
SCC served over 9,000 children in the last fiscal year. While approximately 1,600 were in the foster care system, the remainder benefited from prevention and diversion programs designed to help keep children with their families.
SCC always strives to create innovative programs to fill the gap for families and children in our community. In the past year, the organization has collaborated with many partners in the nonprofit community to help families and children thrive, no matter their circumstances.
In the last fiscal year, it expanded its programs to include a Fatherhood Program to work with dads and reunite them with their children. The organization also partners with the local NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) to provide services for high needs youth with significant mental health issues by utilizing peer services. Another program it collaborates with, Parents for Parents, pairs peers who have completed reunification with their children with those who are currently working towards reunification.
“Having a peer who has been through the system saying ‘I’ve been there. I’ve done that’ has been amazing,” said Brena Slater, President and CEO of SCC. “We’ve seen a lot of progress and amazing results with that program.”
SCC has also made internal changes, such as bringing nurse case management in-house to coordinate medical and dental care for their children, along with following up with the thousands of post-adoption children to ensure their families are following up with medical, dental, and mental health needs. Plus, the organization developed a Youth Intervention Services program aimed at high-needs kids and their families who have not yet had any interaction or calls to the abuse hotline. “Our goal is for these families not to even come to our attention of having an abuse report against them,” Slater said.
One area where SCC has made significant progress is the turnover rate among case managers. SCC has increased their salaries and reduced their caseloads to improve retention. “I think the case management job is the most important job in this agency,” said Jacqueline House, Vice President of Communications and Community Engagement. “They are the people that have a direct line of contact with families and children.”
Slater added: “We want to professionalize staff so we can continue to lower turnover rates because it’s so important for families to have stability and continuity.”
The staff becomes emotionally attached to their children and families, as evidenced by a girl in care who was recently placed in a boarding school to complete high school. The day she left SCC’s youth shelter, House said, “we all told her, when she graduates from high school, we’re taking a road trip to go see her graduate.”
Graduation is significant to the SCC staff, children and families. Every summer on the same day, two ceremonies honor preschoolers and first-generation college students. The children and young adults represent two programs, HIPPY and Achievers, and the brighter futures they create.
“The work that we do really changes people’s lives,” said House. “It changes the trajectory of what they can accomplish, not just for them, for generations to come.”
You can support SCC’s mission with a donation, and by sponsoring their 3rd Annual Giving Breakfast on March 27, 2025.
