We believe in the importance of coming together to make a better place for our children to live – after all, it really does take a village to raise a child.
In 2007, Partnership for Strong Families (PSF), the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Casey Family Programs teamed up to develop a concept to reduce the number of children entering the foster care system by targeting historically underserved communities.
“Hotspots” were identified by zip code and a list of potential social service providers was developed. In June 2008, we met with community partners, including the Alachua County Library District (ACLD), to identify a place to open the resource center. Since the library was also looking to open a branch in Northeast Gainesville, a collaboration was born between the two.
In July 2009, the Library Partnership opened its doors to the community.
In September 2012, Casey Family Programs engaged the Tallahassee-based Ounce of Prevention to publish a research chronicle focusing on the lessons learned as the Library Partnership Resource Center matures. This substantive chronicle was completely by Ounce in collaboration with LP staff. It tells the compelling story of how several years ago, the collaboration between DCF, Partnership for Strong Families, engaged community partners, the Alachua County Library District and Casey Family Programs resulted in these common sense and effective service delivery models. They reflect what Casey Family Programs refer to as Communities of Hope. PSF thanks CFP and Ounce for their dedication to the LP and to producing this chronicle.
In 2018, construction completed on a brand-new facility to permanently house the Library Partnership Resource Center. The 10,000 sq. ft. building features a large community meeting room, study rooms, a quiet reading room, a vibrant teen space new children’s area with a Snuggle Up Center and other spaces to provide innovative programming, classes and essential social services.
