Faith-Based Initiative Brings Churches Together to Strengthen Family Supports
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A number of Tampa’s African-American churches, who play a large role in providing education and social service supports for children and families in their community, gathered July 26 and July 29 to assist in the development of a Spiritual Educational Network Directory (SEND). All Local pastors were invited to assist in the development of the Directory, which will serve as a resource guide for community members in their search for services and supports, including day care, pre-school, after school tutoring, vacation bible school, summer education programs, FCAT/SAT training, adult education classes, and college prep training. Partners include: |
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Beulah Baptist Institutional Church
St. John Progressive M.B. Church First Baptist Church of College Hill First Baptist Church of Progress Village Greater New Hope Anointed Ministries Cloud of Glory Worship Center Tampa-Hillsborough Urban League Pastors on Patrol USF/Louis De la Parte FMHI USF School of Social Work USF College of Business Administration |
"Every faith-based institution has unique resources and capabilities for providing educational and social service ministries that address the needs of children and families," said CFS's Dr. Richard Briscoe, coordinator of the project. "Through the use of the directory, we hope students and families can achieve improvements in academics, socioemotional/behavioral functioning, and family development."
The directory is designed to improve the organizational capacity of faith-based institutions to provide high quality and integrated academic (after-school and summer-school) programs and systems of care for families. Full participation of all stakeholders, including families, caregivers, and church volunteers, enables implementation in a culturally competent manner, based upon the strengths and assets with the families and faith community, and integrated with the schools and local systems of care.
Beulah Baptist Church is located at 1006 W Cypress St, Tampa, FL 33606.
The Department of Child and Family Studies (CFS) is a department of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida. The faculty and staff of CFS are committed to enhancing the development, mental health and well-being of children and families through leadership in integrating research, theory & practice.