The Children’s Trust’s Family and Neighborhood Support Partnerships (FNSP) initiative provides support to Miami-Dade communities with children and families experiencing challenging circumstances, including an affordable housing crisis, a mental health crisis, soaring costs for child care and rising inflation on goods and services.
The FNSP initiative is one of the most deep-end, intervention focused investments of The Children’s Trust. The Trust’s theory of change seeks to amplify strengths and build resilience to counter the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as child abuse or neglect, exposure to family and community trauma and violence, family mental health issues, legal issues, and extreme poverty.
The Children's Trust funds 22 programs throughout Miami-Dade County, with 8 new programs in this new funding cycle that began in 2022. All programs provide three required core services designed to stabilize child and family environments: screening and assessment, care coordination and family stabilization funds. Some programs also offer optional additional direct services that are designed to meet the needs of the intended service populations, such as academic supports; behavioral, mental health or parent-child relationship supports; legal services and education; life skills supports; and vocational training and supports.
Families and youth develop goal plans known as success plans and are supported by success coaches and peer-level staff known as natural helpers.
Families who are in need of care coordination services can call the Trust-funded 211 Helpline or contact the FNSP providers directly.
FNSP funds serve children and youth residing in neighborhoods affected by poverty, crime, unemployment, community violence and trauma. It also serves countywide populations with specific needs and challenging life experiences, such as children exposed to domestic violence; children of incarcerated parents; children involved in or transitioning out of the child welfare system; youth experiencing immigration challenges and/or in need of legal advocacy; families with youth living with disabilities; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.
With the help of community partners, FNSP offers comprehensive and individualized supports for children, youth and their families who are facing situations that limit them from realizing their full health, social, educational, and economic potential. These programs are staffed by teams that include management, clinical and direct service staff along with paraprofessionals, care coordinators, and success coaches. These teams will help families navigate systems and support connecting them to the social services, therapies, beneficial programs as well as essential stabilization items they may need, like assistance with transportation and short-term housing help.