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October 10, 2018 (Sarasota, FL ) Sarasota County Schools, The Community Foundation of Sarasota County and The Florida Center for Early Childhood are working together to offer early childhood mental health services in local elementary schools. The programs will not only help young students, but their families as well. The Florida Center is the leading provider of therapeutic services for young children and their families in Sarasota, Charlotte, Manatee and DeSoto/Hardee counties. “I could not be more thrilled to be involved in this exciting partnership with the Sarasota County School Board and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Young children and their families in our schools will now have direct access to needed mental health services,” said Kathryn Shea, President and CEO of The Florida Center. “Our hope is that by offering these specialized services in elementary schools, we can reach families earlier, removing barriers that often prevent families from receiving assistance,” said Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Kristie Skoglund. “We want to help families heal, which in turn allows children to feel safe and secure. Through our mental health services, children gain the capacity to regulate their behavior and emotions so they can learn and reach their full potential.” Over the course of the year, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has committed $150,000 from the Allen Wirtz Nobbe and Jo Bowen Nobbe Fund and $50,000 from the Tom and Carol Williams Fund. The funds ensure that children at Alta Vista, Emma E. Booker, Tuttle, and Gocio elementary schools have access to on-site mental health services. As a result, vulnerable families with “deep” family issues can get help to break the cycle of trauma that is often generational. The services may include one-on-one therapy for students, family therapy, parenting support, and teacher assistance that can include individual consultation and classroom support. An additional $17,000 in grant funding will be provided to evaluate and report on the impact of the program. “We are proud to be part of this growing collaborative effort across our schools and our community,” says Roxie Jerde, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. “We know that mental health issues have their roots in childhood and by equipping our elementary schools with mental health clinicians, we are helping to bring needed services to our students and their families. Our hope is that this service will benefit the whole child approach to education, helping every student to be healthy, safe, engaged, supported, challenged and successful students.“ With a contribution of $25,000 to The Florida Center, the Willa and Robert Bernhard Fund at The Community Foundation is also helping to provide critical services to children from birth through age eight. In addition to mental health and behavioral support, children with developmental delays or disabilities receive speech and occupational therapies, and early education, while parents can benefit from the in-home support program, Healthy Families. ### For nearly 40 years, The Florida Center for Early Childhood has been the leading provider of therapeutic services and early education for young children in four southwest Florida counties, offering a seamless delivery of services for the whole child and their family. Today, the agency is nationally recognized for its early childhood expertise in a variety of specialties. For more information, visit www.thefloridacenter.org or contact Kristen Theisen at (941) 371-8820 x 1165.