Families First of Palm Beach County received $77,000 in funding from Impact the Palm Beaches at our Awards Celebration in 2023. The funding went to a program providing mental health services and classroom support to children in the local Head Start community (the Infant Mental Health Program). This program benefitted the children served and also increased awareness of the need for quality mental health services at this young age and the benefits of early intervention for these young children. With this funding, Families First was able to provide behavioral support to 44 students and weekly individual therapeutic services to 22 with successful closures.
Due to demand, services were expanded to include parent workshops to reduce the stigma of behavioral health services for young children. Teacher workshops were also added, increasing the quality of the classroom environment. Starting with a pilot in 10 schools, there is currently interest from 16 more schools countywide with Head Start programs. As a previously underserved program, Families First can now collect data on this growing need, helping them to appeal to sustainable funding sources so that these children, families, and teachers can be supported every school year. This proactive approach will reduce behavioral health needs in elementary school by addressing them early.
"We believe that the Impact grant added to the program’s credibility and likely assisted in raising additional funding." In one funding presentation, Vice Mayor Maria Marino specifically mentioned the Impact grant (thank you Maria!). Just a few months ago, Impact100 Palm Beach County, our sister Chapter to the south, voted to commit $100,000 to the program. Additional grant funding from Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties in the amount of $30,000, Fledgling Fund for $40,000, and RCMA amounting to $77,619 a year. This new funding will help to support the Infant Mental Health Care program on an ongoing basis.
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