Council Update: Council served more than 48,500 children in the last fiscal year

Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County served more than 48,500 children in the last fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2021-Sept. 30, 2022), staff told the board at its January meeting. The majority of those, nearly 29,000 children, received child care, afterschool programming and summer camp scholarships. This number reflects a return close to pre-pandemic numbers. 

About 18,700-plus children received support through CSC’s Healthy Beginnings program, which provides maternal and child wellness services. Meanwhile, more than 4,600 children participated in programs at BRIDGES sites. These are 10 hubs in traditionally underinvested communities that support families raising young children, ages 0-8.

In Other Business

Community Connectors: The Council approved $288,360, through 2024, to expand BeWellPBC’s Community Connectors role in both size and scope. Community Connectors are trusted outreach and navigation workers who use their knowledge of their community to bridge the gap between residents and formal systems of care. The funding will: cover the cost to train the connectors on various behavioral health and related topics; allow connectors to meet with providers to gain first-hand knowledge of local resources; create community awareness of the connector program; pay for stipends; and help connectors meet regularly to create a support network. 

ParentChild+ Expansion: The Council approved an increase in funding for the ParentChild+ Program to expand the number of children served by 42, to 426. The total amount increases by $214,944 across the four agencies that provide the program to the community. Those agencies include: Boys Town of South Florida, Guatemalan Maya Center, Lake Worth West Resident Planning Group, and Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County. ParentChild+ is a research-based home visiting model that prepares young children for school success by increasing language and literacy skills, enhancing social-emotional development and strengthening the parent-child relationship.