By Laurie Kimball, Human Services Grants Analyst, Charlotte County; Carrie Walsh, Human Services Director, Charlotte County; and Claire Jubb, Assistant County Administrator, Charlotte County
Earlier this month, staff from our Aging and Adults and Veterans Services divisions of Human Services moved into their new location. This was not just a relocation or a new building but the culmination of a vision surrounding the provision of human services that has been many years in the making.
We all know that the local jurisdiction is only one piece in the provision of services for those in our community who need a little extra assistance. Without the support of our partner agencies and non-profits, we would not be able to provide all of the services needed to truly make a difference.
The recognition that these partnerships and relationships are critical to providing all the services and support needed has driven the vision for true collaboration and partnership and made our Family Services Center a reality.
The Family Services Center (FSC) is in one of the County’s older, lower-income neighborhoods and was created on the premise that government and non-profit organizations could successfully collocate in a county-owned facility and save money while improving the delivery of services to residents in need.
The campus is comprised of two buildings totaling 36,000 square feet, an outdoor play area and a future community garden and has been fully funded by the 1% Local Option Sales Tax. It contains office space, an intake area, a dedicated Boys and Girls Club area and a teaching kitchen, which doubles as meeting space.
However, the building and campus are not what makes the FSC special — it is the partnership and collaboration that we find inside that makes this place a unique part of our community. The Family Services Center is an excellent example of how local government took a lead role in developing a human services facility where county and state agencies, as well as non-profit organizations, have successfully come together to share space, resources and the programming needed to improve the quality of life for Charlotte County residents and set them on a path for long term sustainability.
The Family Services Center currently houses fifteen partners who collaboratively provide a diverse array of programs and services spanning both governmental agencies such as the local Health Department, Public Schools, and the Sheriff’s Office, along with nonprofits such as the Boys and Girls Club and their after-school programming, United Way, Area Agency on Aging, Charlotte Behavioral Health Care and Drug Free Charlotte to name but a few.
What makes this project unique is the operational model they created in which partner organizations are offered a no-cost lease with the County in exchange for their commitment to share space and the mission and vision of the Family Services Center. This model has the distinction of allowing different offices to take a comprehensive approach while working with clients. If one office can’t solve a problem, they are referred to a neighboring organization that can.
The Center is also becoming a community hub for special events that are open to the general public and provide meeting space for government, nonprofit and civic groups. The facility expanded its hours to accommodate these needs and maximize it while also increasing the taxpayers’ benefit from the facility. The project is steadily gaining popularity as a place where people can not only get help but it is somewhere they can go to begin growing as individuals or as a family.
As there were so many partners involved in this vision, the County wanted it to be well-planned and executed to meet the needs of the community and the partners. To facilitate this, they sought the assistance of Together Charlotte, a collaborative coalition, which was tasked with determining the spatial needs, developing an integrated client service model and establishing the processes for selecting tenants, determining program focus areas and defining outcomes that would be shared in lieu of rent. They met with the County regularly and did extensive outreach while developing recommendations for the Board of County Commissioners. Having specific, measurable outcomes gives each partner a voice in the overall success of the center and has ensured all partners are working to achieve common goals.
There are logistical challenges that come with these type of facilities that houses both county staff, state and partner agencies, nonprofits and on any given weekday, children of all ages at the Boys and Girls Club. Flexibility and communication have been paramount to finding solutions to these challenges, and although issues still arise, the team is ready to work through those issues and find solutions.
This has not been an easy road, but the County and the Commission have stuck to the initial vision, resulting in what we have today. A vibrant, collaborative, multi-generational partnership working together to meet the needs of Charlotte County and our residents.
