Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #2648FY0001 Children's Advocacy Center: Family Assessment Center
Requester:		Jeff Rainey			Organization:		Administrative Office of the Court, 13th Judicial Circuit
Project Title:		Children's Advocacy Center: Family Assessment Center			Date Submitted:		2/16/01 11:36:38 AM
Sponsors:		Victor Crist
Statewide Interest:		This is a local pilot project and would be considered a model program for statewide implementation.
Recipient:		Department of Children & Families Suncoast Region			Contact:		Jeff Rainey
		4000 W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.			Contact Phone:		(813) 276-2762
		Tampa 33605
Counties:		Hillsborough
Service Area:		Government Entity
Project Description:
There are currently over 1,500 children in foster care in Hillsborough County. The average length of stay in care for these chilren is approximately thirty-six (36) months. The Dependency Court Division in Hillsborough County has seen a 270% increase in the total number of active cases since 1996. In response to the needs of the child welfare system in Hillsborough County, the Family Assessment Center has been proposed. The Assessment Center is a vested collaborative partnership of community stakeholders in the child welfare system, including: the Department of Children and Familes, the 13th Judicial Courts, the University of South Florida, the Spring of Tampa Bay, the Child Protection Team, the Children's Board of Hillsborough County, the Children's Home, Inc., the Tampa YMCA, and Hillsborough Kids, Inc. The Assessment Center would co-locate professionals from various disciplines, including: mental health, health and development, substance abuse, domestic violence, child protection and family assessment. The assessments would begin immediately upon a child entering the system and would be formulated with input from all participating agencies and disciplines of the Assessment Center. Professionals would identify child and family strengths and weaknesses, trhus assuring specific and appropriate coordinated service referral and intervention.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
The measurable outcomes for the Assessment Center Project would include: improved child safety and well being by more timely assessments, faster and more efficient links to services, higher degree of communication and collaboration between community agencies, more effective communication to the Court. Reduction in costs associated with service provision by eliminating the duplication of services recommended and offered to children and families.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:						$800,000
Total cost of the project:			$1,045,250
Request has been made to fund:				Operations
Type of funding match:		Local
	Total Cash Amount:		$200,000		Total In-Kind Amount:		$45,250
Was this project previously funded by the State?							No
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?							No
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?							No
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?							No
Is there a documented need for this project?							Yes
	Documentation:		"Building a Better Child Welfare System: A Community Plan for Hillsborough County"
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?							Yes
	Hearing Body:		Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners
	Meeting Date:		12/6/00