Children & Family Assistance

Children's Services Council
Phone Number: 954-377-1000
Email Address: info@cscbroward.org

The Children's Services Council of Broward County (CSC) is an independent taxing authority established by voter referendum in 2000 and reauthorized in 2014. The CSC's mission is to provide leadership, advocacy, and resources necessary to enhance the lives of the children of Broward County and empower them to become responsible, productive adults through collaborative planning and funding of a continuum of quality care.

The CSC funds close to a hundred programs that serve children and families, advocates for policies that protect the interests of future generations and provides leadership that brings the child-serving community together. The CSC works in partnership with Community Builders to help "Turn the Curve" in a positive direction on issues like Maternal and Child Health, Family Strengthening, After-School and Out-of-School Time, Kinship Care, Youth Leadership, Advocacy and Employment, Support for Youth and Families with Special Needs, and Housing and Employment Supports for Youth Aging Out of the Foster Care System. Click here for information about The Florida Children's Council and all other CSC's throughout the state.

Broward County
Family Success Administration Division
Community Service Block Grant
Phone Number: 954-357-5025
Email Address: csbg@broward.org

CSBG Case Management Services:

Early Learning Coalition of Broward County, Inc.
Phone Number: 954-377-2188
Contact ELC Broward via their website.

Since 2000, ELC Broward has been responsible for quality early care and education services for our children. ELC Broward are accountable for helping families find local child care and developing plans to address Broward County's early learning needs.

ELC Broward develops and oversees a comprehensive school readiness program as described in the Local School Readiness Coalition Plan approved by Florida’s Division of Early Learning (formerly known as the Office of Early Learning). This in an ongoing process that builds on existing services, works in cooperation with other programs for young children, and coordinates funding and services to achieve efficiency, accountability and effectiveness.

Florida Network of Youth and Family Services
Phone Number (Main Office - Tallahassee): 850-922-4324
Florida Network of Youth and Family Services is a statewide organization serving as the Emergency Room for children and families that serves over 20,000 youth per year with a 90% success rate. These services are known as CINS/FINS (Children/Families In Need of Service). CINS/FINS funding comes from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Office of Prevention, and has a separate line item in the DJJ budget of $37.6 million each year.

For local services related to the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services, please contact the following organizations:
Prevention Central
1100 W. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
Phone Number: 954-763-5010
Executive Director: Tierra Smith (Email address: tsmith@preventioncentral.org)
Prevention Program Supervisor: Terence Washington (E-mail address: twashington@preventioncentral.org)

Lutheran Services Florida
221 Northwest 43rd Court Oakland Park, FL 33309
Phone Number: 954-568-2801
Executive Director: Raymond Ballinger (Email address: raymond.ballinger@lsfnet.org)
Residential Services Manager: Scoundrel Oliver (Email address: scoundrel.oliver@lsfnet.org)
Clinical Director: Kali Fabal (Email address: kali.fabal@lsfnet.org)

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Broward County
Phone Number: 954-765-0550
Email Address: info@hmhbbroward.org
Emergency Basic Needs Program Preliminary Form

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Broward County, Inc. (HMHB/Broward) was formed in 1987 in response to a high rate of infant mortality in Broward County, Florida. The agency has developed and implemented innovative programs and services for low-income pregnant and parenting families, focusing on zip codes at high risk of infant death, poor maternal/child health, and child endangerment.

HMHB/Broward is a 501(c)3 organization whose mission is strengthening families and improving birth outcomes in the underserved community within Broward County through comprehensive programs, education, and access to vital support services.

LifeNet4Families
Phone: 954-792-2328
Email address: info@lifenet4families.org

LifeNet4Families has over 30 years of providing service to the hungry and homeless of Broward County. From the humble beginnings of distributing a few peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the homeless, to today's provision of more than 90,000 meals a year, our dramatic development has reflected both the growing numbers and the growing needs of the poor in our community. 

Health

Broward Addiction Recovery Center (BARC)
Phone Number: 954-357-4880 or 954-357-4851

Broward Addiction Recovery Center (BARC) is dedicated to serve our community.

• Strengthening our social safety net 
• Providing integrated substance abuse and mental health care services
• Promoting successful recovery and reintegration back into the community

Crisis Intervention
Phone Number (24 Hour Sexual Assault Hotline): 954-761-RAPE

Nancy J. Cotterman Center - Broward County’s only Certified Rape Crisis and Accredited Children’s Advocacy Center
The newest division of the Human Services Department is the Crisis Intervention and Support Division (CISD), which consolidated the direct service operations of the Nancy J. Cotterman Center and the Office of Justice Services. CISD will oversee the operations to ensure a continuum of crisis and intervention services to youth, adults and families and the delivery of services to victims of sexual assault and child abuse, as well as effective programs such as Juvenile Civil Citation, Adult Civil Citation, and Juvenile Predisposition Services.

Florida Department of Health
Phone Number: 850-245-4444
Email Address: health@flhealth.gov

FDOH is an executive branch agency, established in section 20.43, F.S. FDOH is led by a State Surgeon General, who serves as the State Health Officer and is directly appointed by Florida’s Governor, and confirmed by Florida’s Senate. FDOH has three deputy secretaries that oversee all of its business and programmatic operations.

FDOH is comprised of a state health office (central office) in Tallahassee, with statewide responsibilities; Florida’s 67 County Health Departments (CHDs); 22 Children’s Medical Services (CMS) area offices; 12 Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) regional offices; nine Disability Determinations regional offices; and three public health laboratories. Facilities for the 67 CHDs are provided through partnerships with local county governments. These 67 CHDs have a total of 255 sites throughout the state, providing a variety of services, and ranging from small to large in location size.

Women in Distress
Phone Number: 954-760-9800
24-hour Crisis Hotline: 954-761-1133 or 954-527-5385 (TTY/TDD)
Email Address: info@womenindistress.org

Women In Distress is the only nationally accredited, state-certified, full service domestic violence center serving Broward County, Florida. Our mission is to stop domestic violence abuse for everyone through intervention, education and advocacy.

Women In Distress currently operates a 132 bed shelter, an outreach center (Jim & Jan Moran Family Center), and a thrift store. Women In Distress’ programs and services are divided into Residential and Outreach Services.

Homelessness 

Broward County Homeless Initiative Partnership
Phone Number: (954) 563-4357

Homeless Initiative Partnership Section (HIP) is the designated Lead Agency for the Broward County Homeless Continuum of Care (CoC) Board as well as the CoC’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). HIP serves as staff to the CoC Board, the County’s focal point for planning and coordinating services for homeless families and individuals.

HIP provides support to the Homeless Providers and Stakeholders Council and is responsible for carrying out the CoC Board’s responsibilities designated as the Local Coalition by the State of Florida.

Covenant House Florida
Phone Number: 954-561-5559 or 800-683-8338
Email Address: mission@covenanthousefl.org

Covenant House Florida serves runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth under 21. Each year, they reach hundreds of kids via street outreach, crisis shelters, transitional housing projects, and aftercare, making Covenant House Florida one of the largest private agencies serving runaway and homeless youth in the state of Florida.

Taskforce Outreach
Phone Number: 954-563-4357

Since 2003, the TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness, Inc. has been the premier agency providing outreach street services to Broward County, Florida’s homeless. Their efforts have created a level of client trust that has enabled them to successfully help thousands of Broward County residents. 

As the front door to Broward’s Coordinated Entry & Assessment system for adult individuals, they have established long-term relationships within Broward County’s network of social service providers, advocates, health agencies, the justice system, and the faith-based community. These valuable relationships allow them to reach their outreach goals and assist our homeless neighbors.

The TaskForce depends upon community support to provide critical street outreach services. They also offer donors the opportunity to build a legacy that will continue long into the future.

Download the Lauderhill Police Department's Homeless Resource Guide

Senior Assistance

211 First Call for Help
Phone Number: 211 or 954-537-0211

Residents in search of critical social services such as emergency financial assistance, food, shelter, housing, child care, job training placement, relief from abuse, depression, summer/after school programs, healthcare or mental support often do not know where to begin. Many are confronted with a confusing array of organizations through which they must search for what they need. Looking for help means locating dozens of phone numbers and/or web sites (for those who have access), and then searching through a maze of agencies and services to make the right connection.

Agency for Health Care Administration
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration's mission is "Better Health Care for All Floridians." As champions of that mission, they are responsible for the administration of the Florida Medicaid program, licensure and regulation of Florida’s health facilities and for providing information to Floridians about the quality of care they receive.

Every day, they look for ways to improve health care in Florida. They’ve built strong partnerships with other agencies and continue to develop relationships with stakeholders at all levels in communities around the state. The Agency for Health Care Administration would not be able to effectively carry out its mission without your help. Thank you for your partnership and for the opportunity to serve you.

The Agency places the utmost importance on the safe and secure handling of all protected health information.

• Assisted Living Unit Information
• Nursing Home Information
• Find a Facility or Provider in Florida (FloridaHealthFinder.gov)

Area Agency on Aging Broward
Phone Number: 954-745-9779
Contact Area Agency on Aging Broward via their website.

The Areawide Council on Aging, Inc. of Broward County d/b/a The Area Agency on Aging of Broward County (AAABC) is a nonprofit organization serving Broward County's senior residents, age 60 or older. The Areawide Council on Aging, Inc. was incorporated in 1974. The AAABC is part of a State Network which contains a total of 11 Area Agencies on Aging in the State of Florida which each have their own planning and service areas (PSAs). The AAABC is designated as PSA 10 and is the only PSA comprised of one county, Broward County.

AARP
Phone Number: 888-687-2277
TTY: 877-342-2277

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. They work for individuals age 50 and over and their families on important issues such as Social Security and financial security, health care, housing, and other important issues.

Alzheimer’s Association
Phone Number: 800-272-3900

The Alzheimer’s Association leads the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia – by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

Coast to Coast Legal Aid
Phone Number: 954-736-2400

Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida provides free civil legal services to low-income and otherwise eligible residents of Broward County. Our mission is to improve the lives of low-income persons in our community through advocacy, education, representation, and empowerment. We provide assistance in the civil law, including family law, senior law (age 60 and over), economic advocacy and community health.

Department of Elder Affairs
Phone Number: 800-963-5337 or 850-414-2000
TDD: 850-414-2001

The Department provides most direct services through its Division of Statewide Community-Based Services, which works through the state’s eleven Area Agencies on Aging and local service providers to deliver essential services to a vital segment of the population. The Department also directly administers a wide range of programs, ranging from the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, Office of Public and Professional Guardians, and the Livable Florida Initiative to SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders), CARES (Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services) and EHEAP (Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program).

TOPS Broward County Paratransit
Phone Number: 954-357-8400 or 866-682-2258

BCT’s paratransit service is a shared-ride for persons with physical, cognitive, emotional, visual, or other disabilities which functionally prevent them from using the BCT fixed-route bus system permanently, temporarily or under certain conditions. The estimated travel time of a TOPS! trip is similar to the same trip, including transfers and walking time, of a fixed-route bus. The one-way fare per trip is $3.50 and must be paid to the driver upon boarding the vehicle. Passengers must have the exact fare since drivers do not make change.

Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (S.H.I.N.E.) - Health Insurance Needs
Phone Number: 800-963-5337
TDD/TTY: 800-955-8770

Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE) is a free program offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and your local Area Agency on Aging. Specially trained volunteers can assist you with your Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance questions by providing one-on-one counseling and information. SHINE services are free, unbiased, and confidential.

Social Security Administration
Phone Number: 800-772-1213
TTY: 800-325-0778

The United States Social Security Administration is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. 

Social Security has provided financial protection for our nation's people for over 80 years. Chances are, you either receive Social Security benefits or know someone who does. With retirement, disability, and survivors benefits, Social Security is one of the most successful anti-poverty programs in our nation's history.

Other Resources and Information

Broward County Vulnerable Population Registry
Phone Number: 954-831-4000 (TTY 954-831-3940)

The Vulnerable Population Registry is a program that allows people who would be at risk following an emergency to register in advance so that emergency workers may plan a better response during a recovery effort. The Registry is a joint partnership between municipalities and Broward County. City of Lauderhill residents may sign up for the registry.

For more information, or to sign up for the registry, please call Broward County at 954-831-4000 (TTY 954-831-3940) or visit the Broward County webpage for At Risk Residents.

Additionally, emergency shelters are operated by Broward County. More information on them can also be obtained by calling Broward County at 954-831-4000 (TTY 954-831-3940) or by visiting the Broward County webpage for At Risk Residents.

OIC of South Florida
Phone Number: 954-563-3535
Email Address: COMMUNICATIONS@OICSFL.ORG

OIC of South Florida (OIC-SFL) is a beacon of hope through its ability to serve as a community-based workforce, job development, and training organization. OIC-SFL focuses on the unemployed, underem­ployed, unskilled, and those with barriers to self-sufficiency due to past indiscretions in their background through our various Workforce Development Division programs. OIC-SFL also seeks to proactively address the vicious cycles of poverty via our Youth & Family Division programs. By partnering with local schools and government agencies, OIC-SFL can successfully provide career awareness and readiness programming annually to over 7,000 students in middle school and high school.

Rebuilding Together Broward County
Rebuilding Together Broward County's goal is to help low-income homeowners, Senior adults, people living with disability, and Veterans improve the Safety and Health of their home.
Complete a Homeowner Application for this program.

United Way of Broward County
Phone Number: 954-462-4850
Contact United Way of Broward County via their website.

For over 80 years, United Way of Broward County has united the community to tackle the most complex, critical challenges and create long-lasting positive change. United, we stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves, united we confront those who are working hard and falling short and united we fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community.

US Veterans Affairs
Phone Number: 800-698-2411
TTY: 711

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides links to Veterans benefits and services, as well as information and resources for other Departmental programs.

Sierra Club

Sierra Club is bringing people together to build the most powerful and influential environmental movement the world has ever seen. Today, serious challenges are ahead: a warming climate, unprecedented levels of pollution, and powerful special interests undermining basic protections. There’s no time to waste in coming together for new solutions.