Family support services expanded in collaboration with Partnership for Strong Families

February 18, 2025 —

The Children’s Trust of Alachua County is expanding its support for children and families through its continued collaboration with Partnership for Strong Families, kicking off a free child development program this March for families with children ages 0-8.

Help Me Grow Alachua is an evidence-based program that connects families with community resources to help them navigate and address concerns related to child development. The program, which is fully funded by the Children’s Trust, operates as an interconnected network of community resources, meaning families can access services spanning across healthcare, childcare, home visits and more. Additionally, families can receive answers to their questions and concerns about child development, guidance on free developmental and behavioral screenings, and parenting tips and activities for their children.

"Support services offered by programs like Help Me Grow Alachua are among the ways we’re working to strengthen families and offer children every opportunity to thrive, from birth,” Marsha Kiner, executive director of the Children’s Trust of Alachua County. “We’re excited to offer this program and appreciate Partnership for Strong Families joining with us to make this program available to the community through our Family Resource Centers.”

The Children’s Trust provides funding for four Family Resource Centers in Alachua County – two of which are operated by Partnership for Strong Families and will house the new Help Me Grow Alachua services. Now, families of young children who visit the Library Partnership Resource Center and the SWAG Family Resource Center can receive the targeted support they need for their child’s development.

Also new in 2025 is an expansion of the Community Resource Navigator program, which functions like a mobile Family Resource Center and embeds a navigator at each community site 1-2 days per week. The most recent addition to the schedule is in Newberry, joining existing locations in Alachua, Hawthorne, High Springs, Porters Quarters, and Waldo.

The continued partnership between the organizations also includes Family Resource Center consulting services, which led to assisting with building the One Community Family Resource Center and the Micanopy Family Resource Center last year. Future plans include adding more Family Resource Centers throughout the county.

“This invaluable partnership ensures that children and families can readily access the resources they need to thrive, empowering them to succeed while often preventing the need for more formal interventions like child welfare involvement,” said Ginger Griffeth, CEO of Partnership for Strong Families. “We are deeply grateful for the steadfast support of the Children’s Trust of Alachua County.”

Find a Family Resource Center:

• Library Partnership Resource Center (operated by PSF and Help Me Grow Alachua is offered here)
  912 N.E. 16th Avenue, Gainesville
  352-334-0160
• SWAG Family Resource Center (operated by PSF and Help Me Grow Alachua is offered here)
  807 SW 64th Terrace, Gainesville
  352-505-6823
• One Community Family Resource Center (operated by Pleasant Street Civil Rights and Cultural Arts Center)
  1725 SE 1st Avenue, Gainesville
  352-283-2185
• Micanopy Family Resource Center (operated by the Willie Mae Stokes Community Center)
  355 NW Eestalustee Avenue, Micanopy
  352-466-1136

Visit a Community Resource Navigator:

• Alachua Branch Library, 14913 NW 140th Street, Alachua
  Mondays 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., and Thursdays 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Hawthorne Area Resource Center, 21923 SE 67th Place, Hawthorne
  Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., and Thursdays 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• High Springs Branch Library, 23779 US-27, High Springs
  Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Newberry Branch Library, 110 South Seaboard Drive, Newberry
  Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Porters Community Center, 522 SW 3rd Street, Gainesville
  Tuesdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Waldo City Square, 14450 NE 148th Avenue, Waldo
  Mondays 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

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ABOUT THE CHILDREN’S TRUST OF ALACHUA COUNTY

The Children’s Trust of Alachua County funds and supports a coordinated system of community services that allows all children, youth and their families to thrive. Its funded programs and partnerships address three main goals: that all children and youth are healthy and have nurturing caregivers, can learn what they need to be successful, and live in a safe community.

ChildrensTrustOfAlachuaCounty.us  |  @ChildrenAlachua

ABOUT PARTNERSHIP FOR STRONG FAMILIES

Partnership for Strong Families (PSF) is the lead community-based care agency for Florida Judicial Circuits Three and Eight, including Alachua County. Contracted by the Florida Department of Children and Families, PSF provides comprehensive child welfare services to children who are victims of abuse and neglect. Additionally, PSF works with at-risk families to prevent abuse and reduce the need for foster care placements. PSF serves more than 4,500 children across thirteen counties annually.

Written by Naomi Volcy, Communications and Marketing Intern