Family Integrity Program

Announcements, News, and Events

The Family Integrity Program thanks the Junior Service League of St. Augustine Service Committee DIAD Project for their generous donation of goods for our Independent Living Youth. They collected items such as comforters, sheets, pillows, towels, laundry baskets, cleaning supplies, pots, pans, dishes, glassware and all kinds of good things....even mops, buckets and trash cans!

Thanks to the Junior Service League  – The Family Integrity Program thanks the Junior Service League of St. Augustine Service Committee DIAD Project for their generous donation of goods for our Independent Living Youth. They collected items such as comforters, sheets, pillows, towels, laundry baskets, cleaning supplies, pots, pans, dishes, glassware and all kinds of good things....even mops, buckets and trash cans! jslofstaugustine.org/about/

Foster Home Orientation – Got Heart? If 'yes', then maybe you could help a local child in need. The Family Integrity Program is seeking foster home applicants to care for our county's dependent children, and to work in partnership with team members to reunify families. Anyone may apply to become a Foster Parent. 'Dedicated, nurturing, resourceful, and strong' are just a few qualities that make a Foster home successful. The next Orientation / Q&A session is September 9, 2013, 6:30 to 8:30pm, in the Health and Human Services Building, 1955 US1 S, St. Augustine. Pre-Service classes begin September 16, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm for nine consecutive Mondays (excepting for holidays). Registration is closed after the 2nd class on September 23, 2013. Please contact Joy Meyerpeter at (904) 209-6131, or visit www.sjcfl.us/fip for more information. Class Schedule.

View the May 24, 2013 letter from David Wilkins, Secretary of the Department of Children and Families, regarding recent legislative changes to the Florida Foster Care System.

Health and Human Services Accreditations – Health and Human Services is proud to announce that the Council onAccreditation has reaccredited the Family Integrity Program and accredited the Social Services division. This accomplishment distinguishes Social Services as among an exceptionally limited number of county-operated Social Services holding this accreditation. Press Release.

St. Johns County Employee Recognition – Kevin Roberts, an Independent Living Coordinator and Dependency Case Manager for the Family Integrity Program, was recently recognized as the St. Johns County Employee of the Year. Mr. Roberts' selection follows his recent distinction as the Florida Coalition of Children Case Manager of the Year, an award which highlights his diligent efforts to serve at risk youth both within and beyond St. Johns County borders. Press Release and Employee of the Year Image.

Want to become a Foster Parent? The Family Integrity Program is proud to provide the Foster Care Services for St. Johns County. Click for more information or visit this page.

About the Family Integrity Program

The Family Integrity Program's mission is to work in partnership with the State of Florida and the local community to develop, implement and manage a highly effective, strength-based community-based system of care for abused and neglected children and their families. All situations cannot be categorized with hard and fast guidelines. So the Family Integrity Program provides different types of intervention.
Understanding that not one child or family is the same, here are a few examples of the services you and your family may be involved with, as well an explanation of the Florida mandated case plan required for each child.

Our Services
  • Parenting Education – The St. Johns County Health and Human Services Community Resource Center provides Parenting Education Groups, using the concepts put forth by the Nurturing Parenting Program, developed by Stephen J. Bavolek, Ph.D. Groups are held at a variety of locations throughout St. Augustine. More information.
  • Enhancement Services – As part of your case plan you may also be ordered to complete classes in parenting, anger management and addiction prevention. They are offered throughout St. Johns County at various social service agencies. In addition, you may be ordered to complete a psychological evaluation. Names of reputable psychologists will be given to you upon your request. Sometimes caregivers are required to be drug tested on a random basis at a designated drug testing center.
  • Dependency Case Management – Dependency Case Managers assist the families with case plan tasks that address reasons for removal. The Dependency Case Manager provides all necessary referrals for the parents, child and caregivers by linking them to the appropriate services. The Dependency Case Manager completes ongoing home visits at the child's placement to ensure safety, well-being and permanency. The Dependency Case Manager attends all court hearings and provides written reports to the Court.
  • Independent Living – The Independent Living Program provides services to youth ages 13-18 in licensed out of home care and young adults who were formerly in licensed out of home care. The program is designed to assist youth to become self-sufficient and live independently as adults. They are taught life skills including, but not limited to, money management, career and education planning, and employment searching. Upon reaching their 18th birthday, these young adults may continue participating in the program and receive the Road to Independence Scholarship, Educational Training Vouchers, Transitional Support Services or Aftercare Support Services. This program is voluntary, but does require the young adult to demonstrate progress and actively participate.
  • Adoptions – The Adoption Specialist works with special needs children who are legally free for adoption. In most cases, children are adopted by their current caregiver who they have been placed with during the dependency process. Adoption Specialist completes the necessary documents to finalize the adoption. Adoption Specialist also recruits for children who do not have an indentified placement. For more additional information contact, Kim Kelly, at (904) 209-6107 or visit AdoptFlorida.org.
  • Post Adoptions – Post-Adoption services are available to help families meet the special needs of children adopted from the child welfare system. This service can be utilized by adoptive parents for short-term services to enhance safety or to promote continued permanency and well-being for adopted children. A post - adoption support group is held bi-monthly at the Family Integrity Program. Quarterly newsletters are distributed to adoptive families to provide them with ongoing information and support. Please contact, Claudia Sheremeta, at (904) 209-6109 for more information.
  • Family Preservation – The Family Preservation Program is a Diversion Program, aimed at families with moderate to high risk of abuse and/or neglect of their children. The goal is to safely maintain the children with their families. Families are referred by the Dept of Children and Families and have the right to refuse the services, in which case the case is returned to the Department of Children and Families. Services include: intense case management, in-home counseling, use of Flex Funds to assist with financial crises and on-site drug screening. Families are seen one to five times per week, as needed.
  • Outreach – The Outreach/Prevention Program accepts referrals from community providers, the Department of Children and Families and the Dependency branch of the Family Integrity Program. The families referred are deemed to be of low-to-moderate risk of child abuse and/or neglect. Services range from providing group parenting education to in-home parenting education. Flex funds may be utilized to assist with financial crises. Referrals are made, as needed, to other community agencies for needed services, such as domestic violence counseling.
  • Foster Home Licensing – The Foster Home Licensing Unit work together to recruit, initially license and then relicense individuals who wish to be foster parents. The unit insures that all candidates meet the licensing criteria established by the Florida Statute, Florida Department of Children and Families and the Family Integrity program. Once the foster home is identified and licensed, the licensing unit will facilitate the placement of a child in the home to insure that the child and the foster parents are compatible. Through the Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI), the licensing unit strives to give both the child and the foster parents the best experience possible.