Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #441FY0102
Statewide Kinship Support Center
Requester:		Anne Strozier			Organization:		Kinship Support Center at the University of South Florida
Project Title:		Statewide Kinship Support Center			Date Submitted:		1/18/2002 2:17:03 PM
Sponsors:		Arthenia Joyner, Sandra Murman
Statewide Interest:
To respond to the developing foster care crisis, the provision of supports and innovative services to kin (relative) caregivers designed to help keep abused, neglected, and dependent children from entering (and/or remaining) in out-of-home placements. The Kinship Center is a collaboration of the University of South Florida and Nova Southeastern University serving the entire State.
Recipient:		Kinship Support Center at the University of South Florida			Contact:		Anne Strozier
		4202 East Fowler Avenue, MGY 132			Contact Phone:		(813) 974-1379
		Tampa 33620
Counties:		{Statewide}
Gov't Entity:			Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit):					Yes
Project Description:
288,000 Florida children are being raised in grandparent-headed households, according to Year 2000 U.S. Census figures. This represents an increase of 57,000 children (33%) in ten years. If just 2% of those children were to enter foster care, the State would be forced to find beds that are currently unavailable for 5,760 children. In proactive response, the Kinship Center will provide support to grandparents and other relatives raising children throughout Florida by means of a statewide, toll-free support and information referral line, a statewide database of support groups and services and clearinghouse of kinship care information, training and technical assistance for support group and leadership development, a legal hotline and handbook, and ongoing evaluation and research.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
Outcome 1: Creation of a statewide database of support groups and services available to kin caregiving families and service providers, including community-based lead agencies. Outcome 2: Organization and electronic linkage of a statewide network of support groups. Outcome 3: Establishment and operation of a statewide legal hotline and preparation and distribution of a legal handbook assisting caregivers with making permanency decisions and related matters in the children's best interests. Outcome 4: Maintenance of an increased access to a statewide support and information referral line, legal hotline and handbook, and support groups as measured against benchmarks established upon award of the budget request. Outcome 5: Reduced numbers of entries or re-entries into State shelter and foster care in kin caregiving families using supports and services of the Kinship Center compared to the kin families not using such support and services as measured against benchmarks established upon award of the request.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:						$500,000
Identify items(s) in the FY 2002-03 Appropriations Bill to be reduced:
Specific Appropriation #:			350A
Specific Appropriation Title:			Special Categories, Grants and Aides, Family Foster Care.
Amount to be reduced:			$500,000
Total cost of the project:			$900,000
Request has been made to fund:				Operations
What type of match exists for this project?					Local, Private
	Cash Amount:		$404,875
Was this project previously funded by the State?							Yes
	Fiscal Year:		1998-1999		Amount:		$100,000
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?							Yes
	Amount:		$500,000
	Purpose for future year funding:					Recurring Operations
	Will this be an annual request?						Unknown
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:		Agency Needs Assessment
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?							Unknown