With over 60 years of history in the state, FCC, which was originally called the Florida Association of Child and Family Agencies (FACFA), has grown and transformed alongside the child welfare system. In 2002, after the initiation of a new community based child welfare system across the state, the Coalition changed its name and restructured itself to form an unprecedented partnership between child
welfare service providers and the emerging Community-Based Care Lead Agencies. The vision of FCC is to see a system of child welfare in Florida that is fully resourced, well managed, and fulfills the needs of our abused, abandoned and neglected children. Our member agencies care for nearly 50,000 children and families in crisis, providing critical services and programs to this vulnerable population throughout the state. Some of these services include case management, emergency shelters, counseling, foster family care, adoption services, early intervention and in-home services, as well as independent living services. In addition to contracting with various state agencies to provide these services, our members must raise more than $80 million per year from private sources to provide these programs and services to Florida’s abused, abandoned and neglected children. FCC staff facilitates collaboration and resource sharing and among our members, educates state and local policymakers on the needs of Florida’s foster, adoptive and in-crisis families. Maintaining a strong presence in Tallahassee, the location of our association headquarters, FCC works with lobbyists, elected officials, child welfare advocates and members of the public to monitor and affect legislation relevant to our members and the children and the families they serve.