Commissioners accept Children's Services annual report; needs assessment highlights mental-health, early-learning priorities

The Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 13 accepted the Children's Services Advisory Committee's 2024–25 annual report and a 2026 update to its five-year needs assessment, staff said.

Cindy Emerson, community services director, and Megan Kendrick, human services administrator, presented outcomes showing improvement: CSAC-funded programs increased the percentage of outcomes met from 61% to 93% over two years; funded programs delivered more than 21,000 touch points with children, youth and families; and early-childhood programs reached more than 9,000 children. Kendrick said 426 parent and caregiver responses informed the needs-assessment update.

The needs assessment identified three funding priorities for CSAC: health and well-being; nurturing families and communities; and success in school and life. Kendrick summarized emerging themes from parent and caregiver feedback: easier access to mental-health care, more affordable quality early learning, expanded mentoring and real-world-skills programming, and continued support for tutoring and summer academic programs.

Commissioners moved to accept the annual report and the motion carried by voice vote. Staff emphasized the needs-assessment is a living document that drives funding decisions and a GIS map of funded programs is available on the county's website for transparency.

Next step: CSAC will use the needs-assessment findings to inform request-for-proposal priorities and funding decisions for programs that serve children and families in Indian River County.