OUR PURPOSE: FCFC helps South Florida communities flourish by providing family-nurturing programs and by strengthening organizations to better serve others.
OUR PLAN: We accomplish our tasks through:
> information and resource sharing
> direct services
> workshops and consulting
> promotion and support of our community partners
> networking opportunities
> the development of neighborhood collaborations and
> helping provide a positive voice for the faith community.
To better achieve each of these strategies, we encourage faith groups to work alongside local agencies and community groups when possible.
NETWORKING & CAPACITY BUILDING
Equipping - Since 1999, FCFC has sponsored practical community-wide trainings, provided one-on-one “coaching” and offered useful information and resources to help build the capacity and infrastructure of faith and community - based groups.
Engaging & Collaborating - We’ve encouraged and helped faith and grassroots groups to be more a part of the lives of their local communities by building on local strengths and resources that already exist and by joining with other organizations and agencies to bring hope and healing to their neighbors.Capacity Building – equipping faith and community-based groups to more effectively serve others.
Hope for Miami - Consulting and training to equip South Florida faith and community-based groups to better serve our neighbors. More info
Hope Institute of S FL: Regular throughout-the-month training and consulting for S. Florida faith and community-based groups.
Need a low-cost 501-c3, legal advice, help with accounting, fundraising, grant-writing, technology related issues, a web-site, or advice about insurance or a 401 - K ? What about assistance with strategic planning or developing a ministry model for getting involved in your community? FCFC consultants and partners can answer your questions and serve your needs honestly, professionally & economically. And if we can’t help you, we’ll do our best to refer you to someone who can.
Bakke Graduate University - FCFC is partnering with BGU to offer Christian-based leadership training via innovative education programs regionally.
INFORMATION AND RESOURCE SHARING
FCFC Web Site - www.fcfcfl.org is our main portal with the what, why and how of FCFC, news and links to helpful resources.
Need volunteers for your organization or ministry or looking for a place to volunteer? This website will connect you to volunteers wanting to serve with you and to places where you can volunteer.
FCFC's Faith Based Social Services Directory is designed to assist you in identifying and connecting to faith-based social services and other helpful resources that exist in Miami-Dade County.
What's Happening - A semimonthly email information feature, What's Happening offers news about events, training seminars, resources, funding opportunities and announcements within the FCFC and broader Miami- Dade/Broward communities and beyond. Click HERE
DIRECT SERVICES - CURRENT PROGRAMS
After-school services and summer camp programs serve over 350 children and their families in 6 Miami -Dade locations. Activities include academic enrichment, field trips, cultural events, sports, dance, art, character education, preventive health screenings and homework assistance. In 2009, FCFC's out-of-school program received a 97% quality rating from The Children's Trust. Plus, more than 95% of our children improved in the areas of academic/social skills and physical fitness.
Success Program is an after school club for middle and high school students with disabilities. Activities include skills that help young people transition to independence. Funded by
Project U-Turn Prevention Education reaches youth as well as parents with healthy relationships education. This program encourages young people to set personal goals for their future, thereby helping them to avoid high-risk behaviors which can lead to teen pregnancy and STDs. Funded by the Florida Department of Health. In three years, Project U - Turn reached over 18,000 public school teens with practical training on how to form healthy relationships that will prepare them for responsible and successful adulthood.
Service Network for Children of Inmates - designed to assure that children with an incarcerated parent will have opportunities to be cared for and supported in their development by responsible adults, helping professionals and others in their communities. The Service Network for Children of Inmates is now a national model, receiving media recognition.
FCFC Mentoring Program - mentors meet weekly with a child who has been carefully matched with them; they often live and worship in the same neighborhoods as the children. Our hope is that one-to-one mentoring by caring adults will significantly improve the life opportunities of the children.
A word about our beginnings...............
The lives of children and families in Florida are at risk.
As a result, in 1998, the Florida Legislature mandated that in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, some government services be privatized and placed in the hands of community based groups. Yet many local agencies, community and faith-based organizations were unaware of these changes.
In May 1999, Rev. Rick Sawyer was asked by the Department of Children & Families to begin a dialogue among agencies, community and faith-based groups to explore ways in which these three sectors might cooperate more effectively to help solve some of the enormous problems that threaten many of Miami's families, youth and children,
In June, 1999, a group from the faith community met to discuss ideas, needs and possibilities. From this beginning, the Family & Children Faith Coalition emerged, unifying those who were interested in working together to make a greater impact in the lives of families and children in their local communities.
In September 1999, we started monthly networking meetings focusing on specific topics. Attendees from different community groups and agencies shared information and resources and began forging alliances on a neighborhood level.
Training seminars were sponsored and word began to spread that FCFC was pooling the strengths of various groups, thus enabling each one to be more effective than it would be operating individually. This approach serves to help unify a divided city.
By January, 2000, FCFC was incorporated in the State of Florida as a not-for- profit organization. In June of 2000, we received 501c(3), tax - exempt status.
Since then, FCFC has developed into an organization that offers unique resources and capacity building for faith groups and provides direct services to children and families.
