Family Support Services
Welcome! The Family Support Services Department at Family Central, Inc. is proud to provide the Broward County community with a variety of programs that encourage parents and young children and strengthen families. Each program has a unique set of criteria for participation and more information is listed below. All general questions regarding the Family Support Services Department can be directed to 954-724-3828.
Broward Educational and Emergency Assistance program
Funded by a grant awarded by the Bank of America, this program exists to serve children and families who may be unable to be reached by other funded programs Family Central offers. Eligibility requirements and guidelines exist in ensuring this grant touches those who may have unmet needs in Broward County.
For more information contact Maria Hernandez, Director of Family Support Services.
Broward’s Infrastructure Design to Grow and Encourage Stability for Foster Care Children (BRIDGES)
BRIDGES is addressing the complex social and emotional needs of young foster children (birth to five years old) enrolled in local child care programs by involving participants from early childhood the child welfare system, the school board and the local PBS affiliate to address identified objectives.
BRIDGES will identify quality childhood environments that are equipped to address and heal challenging behaviors; educate foster parents, parents, guardians and child advocates on the importance of quality early learning environments; provide resources and support to early childhood teachers; strengthen existing relationships between the child welfare and early learning system; address policies that directly impact placement of young children and foster families. BRIDGES is funded by a national grant awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services.
For more information contact Maria Hernandez, Director of Family Support Services.
Cherish the Family (CTF)
Cherish the Family (CTF) is a home-based family support program that provides comprehensive transdisciplinary services to meet the complex needs of families affected by substance abuse and/or HIV. The program’s goal is to prevent the abandonment of children under age three who are in the dependency system and who have been affected by substance abuse and/or HIV/AIDS.
CTF promotes reunification and family stability through an innovative and collaborative approach, offering a full range of culturally-competent and accessible services to help parents create a more stable and nurturing home environment. The program also connects families to important natural support (friends, family, community resources) and coordinates services between and among professional providers in the community (health care, substance abuse and/or HIV/AIDS treatment, mental health, counseling, economic services, job training, etc.). The project is being evaluated by the University of Miami - School of Medicine locally and is being researched by the University of California, Berkley at the national level. Cherish the Family is funded by a grant from the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act through the Children’s Bureau.
For more information please call Omayra Sellas-Lamberty at 954-724-3987.
Developmental Screening
Developmental Screening services are for children birth to 5, not yet enrolled in Kindergarten that are either receiving school readiness financial assistance or are on the waiting list. A typical developmental screen looks at all the things a child can do to determine if they are on track developmentally according to their age. The screening is an easy way to identify concerns that may warrant a full developmental evaluation. Children are screened at time of enrollment for financially-assisted child care and then annually based on their date of birth as long as they are enrolled in school readiness funded care. The Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) are used to screen the children. Family Central staff provide training and technical assistance to all preschool teachers to help them learn how to implement and use the screening tools. If concerns are noted on the developmental screening, Family Central staff will conduct a follow-up appointment and will assist families in making a referral if results indicate that further evaluation is needed. Developmental Screening is funded by the Early Learning Coalition of Broward County, Inc.
For more information contact Jill Gelman at 954-724-4087.
Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY)
HIPPY is a structured, home-based model focused on parent-child centered learning designed to remove barriers and to reach low income families with limited education to become their child’s first teacher. The family is provided with a set of developmentally appropriate materials, curriculum, and books designed to strengthen their children’s cognitive skills, early literacy skills, social/emotional and physical development. Through HIPPY, parents not only become actively involved in the lives of their children, but assist their children to reach their full potential as prepare to enter school. HIPPY conducts client-centered workshops and interactive family events and activities, such as monthly group meetings to encourage parents to develop social/community relationships. HIPPY is funded by the University of South Florida.
For more information contact Monica Pujol-Nassif at 954-724-4058
Nurturing Parenting Program
The Nurturing Parenting Program (NPP) is a short term intensive in-home visitation parent education program using the Nurturing Parenting Skills for Families (NSF) framework. Bachelor level staff is highly trained and supervised by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Families and their children, birth – 11 years old, are eligible for services. NSF utilizes competency-based instruction to strengthen the parent-child bond. The Family Nurturing plan promotes a partnership between parents and professionals in creating a parenting program specifically designed for the unique needs of the individual family. All sessions are designed to promote the 5 Nurturing Constructs and 5 Protective factors that form the core service delivery and provide an opportunity for strength based wraparound case management services. Total service time approx 18-20 weeks. NPP is funded by Children’s Services Council and ChildNet.
For more information contact Michelle Rogers at 954-724-3907.
Parents as Teachers (PAT)
The Parents as Teachers program focuses on families, impacted by substance abuse, with children ages birth to five (5) years old. Services include experiential, interactive, and comprehensive parent education, health education and family support. Services help parents build healthy, nurturing, trusting, secure and responsive relationships that foster bonding and attachment as well as understanding and intervening with children's challenging behaviors. PAT sessions are delivered by a bachelor level staff certified PAT Educator in the family’s home for approximately one to two hours on a bi-weekly basis for up to two years. If a family is identified as needing more intense services, PAT provides weekly sessions to the family. PAT is funded by the Children’s Services Council of Broward County.
For more information or to enroll into Parents as Teachers, please call Maria Hernandez at 954-724-3828
Positive Behavior Support (PBS)
The Positive Behavior Support (PBS) program coaches and supports directors, teachers, parents and children in the acquisition of the skills needed for successful social/emotional development. The PBS model promotes three levels of interventions: (1) building nurturing relationships and creating safe environment for the children; (2) providing social emotional support to targeted students, and (3) providing intensive individual intervention including home visiting. The PBS program of FCI reflects a very strong foundation of evidence-based knowledge at the early childhood stafffing level.
Additionally, PBS introduces books that support the social emotional development of the child; visuals aids with different facial expressions to instill self awareness of feelings and the language to identify them; Becky Bailey’s Conscious Discipline relaxation techniques which help children find their self-regulation center preventing explosive outbursts; and Myrna Shure’s I Can Problem Solve program language, to provide a consistent framework in which children and adults communicate effectively. PBS is funded by the Children’s Services Council of Broward County and United Way.
For more information contact or to enroll contact Monica Pujol-Nassif at 954-724-4058