- Leon County’s first Family Resource Center officially opened in southeast Tallahassee.
- The center offers free resources such as parenting support, psychological services and a computer lab.
- Watch the video to learn what this kind of help means for families in Leon County.
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MISSION:
A central hub for resources to help families succeed.
I’m Kenya Cardonne, your local reporter for southeast Tallahassee.
I get a glimpse into the Family Resource Center, now open to neighbors throughout Leon County.
April Wiley, neighbor – “Sometimes our kids have problems and we look for help but don’t know where to start.”
April Wiley is one of many parents in Leon County who admit that, given the struggles of supporting a family, getting help can be difficult. Fear is partly to blame.
Wiley – “Fear of the unknown, fear of feeling like you’re not going to get help, fear of feeling like these organizations don’t even exist in your city or county.”
To address this, the Children Services Council of Leon County partnered with the Children’s Home Society and opened a Family Resource Center.
Tiffany Martin, Executive Director of Children’s Home Society – “A one-stop shop for any need a family may have here in our community.”
The first of its kind is now located in the community of Cross Creek and offers free access to parenting resources, mental health services, a computer lab, and a number of community partners.
On Saturday, I visited the center for its opening day and over a hundred neighbors stopped by to connect with organizations that can help them cope with the hardships of family life.
Martin – “Finances are a stressor, health is a stressor, the ability to access and pay for health care…”
Everything Tiffany Martin of the Children’s Home Society says can be an obstacle to success for families.
Martin: “We believe that through our work here we can relieve a lot of the stress within the family and that this will ultimately help the family to become healthy, whole and strong again.”
Wiley – “It is needed in different neighborhoods, in different areas of the city.”
Southeast Tallahassee won’t be the only part of Leon County to benefit.
Cecka Rose Green of the Children Services Council told me the $4 million project will be used to establish a family resource center in other areas of need, such as Fort Braden, Macon, Griffin Heights and Frenchtown.
Cecka Rose Green, executive director of the Children Services Council of Leon County: “The goal is to really create a community where families, children and youth can access services regardless of where they live here in Leon County.”
Wiley – “Knowing that they are here to help you and your children – that’s great.”
Currently you can visit this center Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
They tell me they will adjust these hours to meet the needs of the community.
The center is located in Leon County Child Care Council, 2002 Old St. Augustine Road, Building A, Suite 50, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Southeast of Tallahassee, Kenya Cardonne, ABC 27
