Family Preservation

Family Support Services is embarking on a new path in foster care for Northeast Florida’s children and families. With a renewed focus on family preservation, it has been proven that most families, when provided with assistance and programs for success such as parenting classes or employment assistance, will care for their children successfully.

Families need to build on their strengths and Family Support Services helps them to achieve this goal.

For more information: Redesign of Foster Care

Referral Services

Referrals to Family Support Services may be made for families with one or various issues including but not limited to financial or transportation needs, food or clothing needs, emergency assistance or support.
For additional information, please contact us.

Tips and Information

We have tools and information for parents and professionals to help improve the communication and strength of family relationships on a daily basis: _____________________________________

Duval and Alachua counties in Northeast Florida have made impressive gains in preserving families and limiting trauma to children by providing effective, family-centered services to children and families in their own homes. Both areas have successfully reduced the number of children in out-of-home care without increasing the number of children who are re-referred for child abuse and neglect. Please click the link to read the report.

Download the report

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• Prevent child abuse with STEPS (Strengthening Ties and Empowering Parents) – a prevention program for parents to attend parenting classes and more.

Duval County Case Study
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• Helpful Parenting Tips and Tools – child safety, community services and more.
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• Resources for Professionals – training, planning and best practices.
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• Library - links, news and information.
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• Family Stabilization - Resources for children and families

Strengthening Ties and Empowering Parents (STEPS)

Family Support Services prevention service program, STEPS (pdf file)  (Strengthening Ties and Empowering Parents), helps healthy families in Duval and Nassau Counties avoid abuse and neglect.

This program was partly underwritten by the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, Inc. STEPS offers activities through its service center network and community providers.
One such provider is Cassat House, an outreach center giving families tools to build healthy homes, such as financial assistance, food stamps and parenting classes.

Cassat House – A family and abuse prevention service center of Family Support Services
2200 Cassat Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32210
904 389-5230
Open daily, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.