What is the role of social services departments?
Just like in every state in the country, the need for helping low-income families remains prominent. Many people in Florida face poverty, and because of this, it may be hard for them to sustain their living. In Florida, about 2 million people are considered under the poverty line. That is about 13.3% of the country’s population which means that there are many people who may not be able to sustain their living and might need financial help and assistance from the government.
In Florida, there isn’t a specific social service agency. However, services are handled by the Agency for Health Care Administration. The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Social Security Administration run programs for needy families. These administrations aim to work in partnership with local families to protect the vulnerable and the disadvantaged. They aim to promote strong and self-sufficient families.
Main Social Services Programs Offered by the State
Adoption Programs
The Florida State Adoption Program handles the adoption program in Florida. The adoption program’s objective is to help parents meet the needs of their adopted child or children. Depending on the child’s history, they can qualify for federal adoption assistance or state assistance. This also includes adoption subsidy policies and practices dependent on the state wherein the foster child was in care before being adopted by their new parents.
Cash Assistance Programs
The Temporary Cash Assistance Program, also known as the TCA, gives cash assistance to families with children. Families eligible must have children under the age of 18 or 19. Eligibility is based on citizenship, Florida residency, and children must have social security numbers, among other considerations. It is also provided to families that have medically verifiable members with disabilities.
Senior Health & Wellness
The senior health and wellness program of Florida promotes a healthy lifestyle to aged individuals for them to sustain and live healthy and happy lives. Services are offered through evidence-based interventions. This program has approximately 260 senior centers currently operating. These projects involve host organizations such as private non-profit organizations, municipal governments, and more. Florida has about 260 senior centers which offer programs to enrich older residents’ lives. These services aid seniors in five categories: health, social, educational, recreational, and nutritional.
Florida Food Assistance Program
In Florida, those who come from low-income families can receive food benefits. Several food access programs are in place to make a healthy diet and education on food preparation available to families and individuals in need. The government distributes some of these benefits through ATM cards, and the money can be spent on eligible food available in stores. This program involves the Supplemental Assistance Program or SNAP and the Food and Nutrition Service or the FNS. They work with different people and organizations such as state agencies, nutrition educators, and more to ensure low-income individuals and families are knowledgeable and informed about the programs. Florida is also investing in farmer’s markets, as they contribute to an overall healthier community. Find out more about food assistance programs in Florida here.