OUR PURPOSE: FCFC cultivates better futures for South Florida's kids and families.
OUR PLAN: We accomplish our tasks through networking, information and resource sharing, direct services, workshops and consulting, the development of neighborhood collaborations and helping provide a positive voice for the faith community. To better achieve each of these strategies, we encourage faith groups to work alongside local agencies and community groups when possible.
NETWORKING & CAPACITY BUILDING
Equipping - Since 1999, FCFC has sponsored practical community-wide trainings, provided one-on-one “coaching” and offered useful information and resources to help build the capacity and infrastructure of faith and community - based groups.
Mobilizing - We’ve encouraged and assisted faith groups to become more a part of the solutions to the needs in our communities through outreach programs and ministries. We've been able to strengthen those who are already successful in ministry as well as help in the creation of new efforts to bring hope and healing to our neighborhoods.
Collaborating- FCFC has also encouraged churches and ministries to work with community organizations and other agencies to more effectively link needs with resources. By working together, all groups are better able to respond to the unique needs of each neighborhood.
Capacity Building – equipping faith and community-based groups to more effectively serve others.
FCFC is part of Miami N.I.C.E., a collaborative project of several partners designed to maximize the social impact of grassroots faith-based & community organizations in Miami-Dade County that provide services to those most in need. Yvonne Sawyer has personally "mentored" ten church and community-based groups to become more effective in serving those around them.
FCFC Services - Need a low-cost 501-c3, help with accounting, grant-writing, or a web-site? FCFC consultants can answer your questions and serve your needs honestly, professionally & economically. And if we can’t meet your particular need, we’ll do our best to refer you to someone who can.
INFORMATION AND RESOURCE SHARING
FCFC Web Site - www.fcfcfl.org is our main portal with the what, why and how of FCFC, news and links to helpful resources.
Need Volunteers for your organization or ministry? This website connects volunteers with faith-based social service organizations, urban ministries, and churches in order to transform vulnerable communities.
FCFC's Faith Based Information & Referral Directory is designed to assist you in identifying and connecting to faith-based social services and other helpful resources that exist in Miami-Dade County.
What's Happening - A semimonthly email information feature, What's Happening offers news about events, training seminars, resources, funding opportunities and announcements within the FCFC and broader Miami- Dade/Broward communities and beyond. Click HERE
DIRECT SERVICES - CURRENT PROGRAMS After-school services and summer camp programs serve over 350 children and their families in 8 Miami -Dade locations. Activities include academic enrichment, field trips, cultural events, sports, dance, art, character education, preventive health screenings and homework assistance. In 2009, FCFC's out-of-school program received a 97% quality rating from The Children's Trust. Plus, more than 95% of our children improved in the areas of academic/social skills and physical fitness. Project U-Turn Prevention Education WAIT Training (Abstinence Education) - encourages young people to set personal goals for their future, thereby helping them to avoid high-risk behaviors which can lead to teen pregnancy. In three years, Project U - Turn has reached over 18,000 public school teens with practical training on how to form healthy relationships that will prepare them for responsible and successful adulthood. Service Network for Children of Inmates - designed to assure that children with an incarcerated parent will have opportunities to be cared for and supported in their development by responsible adults, helping professionals and others in their communities. The Service Network for Children of Inmates is now a national model, receiving media recognition. FCFC Mentoring Program - mentors meet weekly with a child who has been carefully matched with them; they often live and worship in the same neighborhoods as the children. Our hope is that one-to-one mentoring by caring adults will significantly improve the life opportunities of the children. YouthLINK - catalyzes holistic change in youth-serving organizations to accelerate the development of successful futures for South Florida youth. Health, Fitness & Nutrition (Salsa, Sabor y Salud) A healthy lifestyles program designed especially for families with children under 12 years of age. The Arts at FCFC Artology Summer Performing Arts Camp offers an introduction to the performing arts through dance, music, theatre, and the visual arts. Vessels Arts Collaborative is a network of artists who desire to teach their art-form to youth.
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A word about our beginnings...............
The lives of children and families in Florida are at risk.
As a result, in 1998, the Florida Legislature mandated that in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, some government services be privatized and placed in the hands of community based groups. Yet many local agencies, community and faith-based organizations were unaware of these changes.
In May 1999, Rev. Rick Sawyer was asked by the Department of Children & Families to begin a dialogue among agencies, community and faith-based groups to explore ways in which these three sectors might cooperate more effectively to help solve some of the enormous problems that threaten many of Miami's families, youth and children,
In June, 1999, a group from the faith community met to discuss ideas, needs and possibilities. From this beginning, the Family & Children Faith Coalition emerged, unifying those who were interested in working together to make a greater impact in the lives of families and children in their local communities.
In September 1999, we started monthly networking meetings focusing on specific topics. Attendees from different community groups and agencies shared information and resources and began forging alliances on a neighborhood level.
Training seminars were sponsored and word began to spread that FCFC was pooling the strengths of various groups, thus enabling each one to be more effective than it would be operating individually. This approach serves to help unify a divided city.
By January, 2000, FCFC was incorporated in the State of Florida as a not-for- profit organization. In June of 2000, we received 501c(3), tax - exempt status.
Since then, FCFC has developed into an organization that offers unique resources and capacity building for faith groups and provides direct services to children and families.
