Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #722FY0102

Kinship Support Center

Requester:

Christina A. Zawisza, Esq.

Organization:

Children First Project, Nova Southeastern University

Project Title:

Kinship Support Center

Date Submitted:

1/16/2002 11:04:28 AM

Sponsors:

M. Mandy Dawson

Statewide Interest:

To respond to Florida's foster care crisis and provide support to relative caregivers in an effort to help keep dependent children from entering foster care.� Approximately 50% of children adjudicated dependent in Florida are now placed with relatives.

Recipient:

Kinship Support Center at University of South Florida

Contact:

Evan J. Goldman

4202 East Fowler Avenue, MGY 132

Contact Phone:

(954) 262-6028

Tampa 33620

Counties:

{Statewide}

Gov't Entity:

Yes

Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit):

Project Description:

The Kinship Support Center is a collaborative effort of Nova Southeastern University's Law and Family Centers and the University of South Florida serving the entire state.� It will provide support to grandparents and other relatives raising children throughout Florida by means of a statewide, toll-free support and information referral line, statewide database of support groups and services, clearinghouse of kinship care information, training and technical assistance for support groups, leadership development, legal hotline, publication of a Kinship Care Legal Handbook and ongoing development and research.

Measurable Outcome Anticipated:

Outcome 1:� Creation of a statewide database of support groups and services available to caregiver families and service providers;

Outcome 2:� Organization and electronic linkage of� a statewide network of support groups;

Outcome 3:� Establishment and operation of a statewide legal hotline.� Pilot-testing and distribution of a Kinship Care Legal Handbook that guides relative caregivers to understand their legal rights, helps them navigate the court system and informs them about services which they may be entitled to receive;

Outcome 4:� Increased access to a statewide support and information referral line and support group services;

Outcome 5:� Better protection for children and reduced demands on Florida's foster-care system.

Amount requested from the State for this project this year:

$500,000

Total cost of the project:

$900,000

Request has been made to fund:

Operations

What type of match exists for this project?

Private

In-Kind Amount:

$400,000

Was this project previously funded by the State?

Yes

Fiscal Year:

1999-2000

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?

Yes

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:

Dramatic increase in the number of relatives raising children in Florida.

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 and Miami-Date County Legislative Delegations

Meeting Date:

10/19/2001