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Children's Services Council presents annual report, outlines summer programs, family supports and perinatal services
Summary
The Children’s Services Council presented its annual report and described funding for summer enrichment, internships, family support, perinatal navigation and other programs that served thousands in FY2024.
Sika Rose Green, executive director of the Children's Services Council of Leon County, presented the council’s annual report to the board and summarized programs funded in fiscal year 2024 and the council’s current priorities.
Green said CSC operates under three priorities — success in school and life, healthy children and families, and stable and nurturing families and communities — and emphasized collaboration, equity and innovation as core values. The council funded short‑term summer enrichment programs (target: multi‑week day camps that provide meals), summer scholarships for families with special‑needs children, a small business internship program for youth that placed students with local businesses, extensive family support and mentoring grants, perinatal navigator services to improve birth outcomes and a family medical transportation program.
Key figures Green reported: the council approved $1.7M (contracts totaling $1.6M dispersed) for summer enrichment programs, serving 903 unduplicated children; the summer internship program received $250,000 with $153,000 distributed and served 41 youth (9 of whom were later hired by participating employers); family support and parent‑education awards totaled about $2.2M to six programs (year‑one distributions and outcomes reported); a perinatal navigator program was funded at $2.8M over two years to serve 900 families (initial distribution $250,000); and a family medical transportation assistance program was funded at approximately $208,000 for eligible perinatal and pediatric trips.
Green told commissioners CSC also launched small investment capacity‑building grants for very small community nonprofits (operating budgets under $100,000), which provided up to $15,000 per organization outside the normal procurement cycle to strengthen operations and outcomes.
Why it matters: CSC funds and coordinates services for children and families and the council’s investments tie directly to county priorities in early‑learning readiness, youth development, family stability and public health. Green noted the council is still in a relatively early stage of operation and emphasized evaluation partnerships (e.g., with FSU’s Askew School) to move from outputs (services delivered) to measured outcomes.
Ending: Green said CSC will expand family resource centers (one will open at Fort Braden / Scout House in spring) and will publish an impact report in February summarizing outcomes since inception; commissioners commended the council’s progress and encouraged continued data‑driven evaluation.
