I hope this September update finds you in good health, and with peace of mind in the rapidly changing landscape of our world. Now, more than ever, we are grateful for your continued support, which allows us to help thousands of children and families in our community to Reimagine a Future that wouldn’t have been possible without the critical, life-saving, programs and services of the coalition.
As I look back on fiscal year 2025 and ahead to fiscal year 2026, I’m proud of the accomplishments of more than 300 staff members who move this agency forward every day. Over this past fiscal year, there have been many accomplishments. I encourage you to visit our In the News page to see more of them. Below are a few highlights from this past year and our anticipation for this year.
For the year ending June 30, 2025, I’m happy to report that Safe Children Coalition completed the rigorous process of recertification as a Council on Accreditation agency, COA for short. Our expedited reaccreditation was the result of nearly a year of internal review of all program systems and processes. Review included feedback from donors, partners, government agencies, and clients. Reaccreditation validates our commitment to high standards, accountability, and continuous quality improvement in service delivery.
The Council on Accreditation is an international nonprofit organization that accredits human and social service providers in best practices for child welfare, behavioral health and community-based human and social service providers.
In March 2025, we broke ground on our new Youth Shelter. Breaking ground was a huge step in a decades long dream for our community to have an appropriate facility to help youth, ages 10 – 17, who are homeless, truant, runaway, and ungovernable. As well as youth who are experiencing mental health issues or have been locked out of their homes due to family issues. We’re excited to have you on this journey with us.
Each day we get closer to the completion of the new nearly 9,000 square foot youth shelter. Construction is well underway at 4409 Sawyer Road in Sarasota. Upon completion the youth shelter will serve up to 200 teens annually, ages 10 – 17, with up to 3,000 bed nights. The SCC Youth Shelter is the only community-based shelter for youth designed for Sarasota and Desoto counties, and we serve youth from Manatee County, too.
After years of operating in a home built in 1959, the youth shelter will finally have appropriate and adequate space to reduce the wait list of children needing services. With single and double rooms, the layout of the facility will allow for better separation of youth based on individual needs and limitations experienced by youth. Our former location and current temporary location have reduced the number of children we could serve, but soon we’ll be able to help more children and families in the new facility.
Our SCC Youth Shelter campaign is on the precipice of reaching our Phase 1 Goal of $9M. We’re grateful for our foundation partners, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County; Manatee Community Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation and many other private foundations and individuals who have contributed to the success of our campaign.
We’re honored to have received a $500,000 allocation from the State of Florida, Department of Juvenile Justice during the last legislative session. Our partnership with Florida State Representative Fiona McFarland has been instrumental in securing a total of $2.25 million in appropriations from the State of Florida for construction of the new youth shelter.
As we approach completion of our Phase 1 Construction goal, we will are looking foward to finishing Phase II of the campaign to fund beds, furniture, fixtures, and other equipment needed to get the facility ready for the Youth Shelter program to move into the new building. If you’ve got the time, take a drive by the construction site at 4409 Sawyer Road in Sarasota. Then, if you’ve not had a chance, visit our Youth Shelter website to learn more and see how you might like to be involved.
For additional information and gift conversations, reach out to Jacqueline House, Vice President Communications and Community Engagement at jhouse@sccfl.org or 941-371-4799 ext. 1127.
As the community-based care agency for Circuit 12, covering Sarasota, Manatee, and Desoto counties, we are always seeking to collaborate with agencies in our community that can help provide resources for our children and families. In April 2024, we were happy to share in the moment that our CarePortal affiliate was recognized as the ‘2023 Community of the Year’. Our partnership with Bridge A Life, the CarePortal Implementing Partner in Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties, goes back to the beginning. We were the original pilot partner for the CarePortal program, and our partnership has been invaluable.
These highlights are a just a few of our accomplishments for children and families over the past year. I am deeply grateful for all of my staff. They embody our mission of protecting children and youth, strengthening families, and building community. It is because of my incredibly hard working and dedicated staff that more than 10,000 children in our community can begin to Reimagine the Future.
I’m excited to announce our Champions for Children Honorees for our 4th Annual Giving Breakfast taking place on March 26, 2026 at Michael’s on East. This year’s class of honorees range from powerhouse philanthropy, to doing good business and doing good within the community, to providing foundational services for members of our community. Each of them play a significant role in supporting our community overall, and specifically, the work we do with children and families.
Our honorees for 2026 are:
Last year’s Giving Breakfast SOLD OUT and raised more than $265,000 to support children and families in Foster Care, Adoption, and Prevention and Diversion programs. We’re excited to see what this year’s event will bring.
I’m so excited that each of our honorees have agreed to let us honor them for how they go above and beyond for children in our community. Will you join us to honor them? The only way to join the celebration is to secure your sponsorship in their honor. Visit sccfl.org/giving-breakfast to purchase your sponsorship and I will see you at breakfast!
Our Youth Prevention Services Program (YPS), out of around 29 counseling programs, and our Youth Shelter, out of around 20 youth shelters statewide, have been recognized as the best in the state, by the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services and the Department of Juvenile Justice. Just this month our Youth Prevention Services Team and Youth Shelter received the Florida Network Agency of the Year Award, and our Director of Residential Services, Charles Harris, who oversees our Youth Shelter, received the Program Leadership Award.
We pride ourselves on delivering the best services possible to children in our care, and it’s extra special when others are willing to recognize our staff for the hard work and dedication they put in to make the lives of children in our community better.
As 2025 winds down and we reflect on the difference we’ve made together, I hope you’ll start to think about how you can continue helping children in our community Reimagine a Future full of potential.
During SCC’s End of Year Giving Season there are several options for Giving. Here are a few things I hope you’ll consider:
The most important thing to consider for your year-end giving is the impact your donation will have on the lives of more than 10,000 children and families in our Foster Care, Adoption, and Prevention & Diversion programs. When you give to Safe Children Coalition, your gift impacts vulnerable children and youth, who through no fault of their own are abused, neglected, homeless, or at-risk due to challenging circumstances.
We know the need for your support is greater than ever this year and that you have many choices for giving. We are honored that you have chosen to consider Safe Children Coalition in your year-end giving plans.
With appreciation,
Brena Slater
President & CEO
