gainesville, Fla – Partnership for Strong Families (PSF), the lead community-based care agency for Florida Judicial Circuits 3 and 8, is expanding upon its efforts to increase the safety and well-being of children in North Central Florida just in time for Child Abuse Prevention Month. The campaign, celebrated nationally in April, will include new initiatives through PSF’s recently opened NorthStar Family Resource Center in Lake City.
Throughout the month, PSF will help empower families to keep their children safe by providing information, resources and greater awareness of common hazards for children. PSF will have a variety of resources for families available at their network of Resource Centers, including the NorthStar Family Resource Center. In addition to child safety items needed to keep children safe like door alarms and outlet covers, the center is also introducing needed resources for families in Lake City like after-school programming. Other centers in PSF’s network include Library Partnership Resource Center, SWAG Family Resource Center, Cone Park Library Resource Center, all of which are located in Gainesville, and the Tri-County Community Resource Center serving Dixie, Gilchrist and Levy Counties.
“The opening of the NorthStar Family Resource Center in Lake City is a dream come true,” said Dr. Phil Mobley, Resource Center Manager for NorthStar Family Resource Center. “The various services and resources offered through the NSFRC will help families and children to thrive.”
Additionally, PSF partners with community agencies and individuals across its 13 counties as part of their Children’s Partnership Councils. These councils are an ongoing effort to promote interagency cooperation in the delivery of services to children and families, especially in areas lacking access to critical resources. PSF’s Councils have sponsored child safety items for community events in areas like Macclenny and Live Oak while also offering needed assistance in areas like rent and utilities year-round.
“The councils are an effort to reach and aid families in communities where operating full-time resource centers isn’t feasible,” stated Stephen Pennypacker, president/CEO of Partnership for Strong Families. “The ultimate goal of the councils is the same as our resource centers: prevent child abuse by building stronger families and communities.”
PSF will also share details on how community members can ensure happy and healthy childhoods for all children through the agency’s social media sites including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
To learn more about Partnership for Strong Families, please visit www.pfsf.org.
