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COLLABORATION The Children's Services Advisory Committee was established as a collaborative entity with linkage to agencies and providers of children's services. It seeks to provide a unified system, without duplication of existing services. It is the policy of the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners to work in a cooperative venture with (but not limited to) such entities as the United Way, for profit and not -for profit organizations, municipalities within Indian River County, the Indian River County School District and all public agencies. PURPOSE The Children's Services Advisory Committee determined that there are children in Indian River County who have very few, or no, resources to succeed to adulthood in a safe, healthy and productive manner. Also, family involvement must be an integral part of the program requirements, because a family in crisis produces a child in crisis. The purpose of this project is to increase the quality of resources that are important to the community. This is accomplished by a variety of strategies. "Gaps" in services provided are pinpointed and eliminated by establishing and funding new programs. Overcrowded programs are expanded and services supplemented. Effort is taken to locate children and families who may be "slipping through the cracks" of those assistance programs already being provided. In this way the Children's Services Advisory Committee serves Indian River County by providing, or continuing to provide, improved services. NEEDS ASSESSMENT During this reporting period the Children's Services Needs Assessment Sub -Committee, using the countywide needs assessment of the current social, health and public safety services in Indian River County, established the Focus of Needs for 2015-16 which are as follows: • Early Childhood Development • Build Parent Capacity • Out of school recreational activities and enrichment programs • Middle and High School programs that address risky behavior ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND SUB -COMMITTEES All committee members and sub -committee members serve in a voluntary capacity. These members include, but are not limited to, member(s) of the Indian River County Commission, the Superintendent of Schools, a representative of law enforcement, a County Judge, the Administrator of the Department of Health, and a representative of the Department of Children & Families. There are also members who serve as representatives from the community. PROCESS The Needs Assessment and Planning Sub -Committee begins the process assessing areas of Indian River County that demonstrate a need and warrant further study. The Children's Services Advisory Committee reviews the reports of both sub -committees. This report has been titled "The Children's Services Plan." 5 P162