Show All Answers

1. What is a Children’s Services Council?

The Children's Services Council of St. Lucie County is an independent district, authorized by Florida Statute 125.901 and created on October 2, 1990 as a local resource to help local children. The Children's Services Council ensures that every baby born in our county is a healthy baby, helps to stop child abuse before it starts, keep kids off the streets and away from drugs, alcohol and other risky behaviors, and give kids the tools to stay in school and be successful.

2. Who sits on the Children’s Services Council board?

The Children's Services Council of St. Lucie County is governed by a board of local elected officials, governor appointees, and statutory designees.

Five Governor Appointees serve terms of four years each, and five ex-officio members who are appointed by virtue of the office or position they hold, serve as long as they are in their respective office or position. They include the Juvenile Court Judge, a member of St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners, a member of St. Lucie County School Board, the Circuit 19 Administrator of the Department of Children & Families and the Superintendent of St. Lucie County Schools

Visit the Board Members page to see who is currently serving on the Children's Services Council Board.

3. What is the Mission of the Children’s Services Council?

The mission of the Children’s Services Council of St. Lucie County is to improve the quality of life for all children in St. Lucie County.

4. Where does funding for the Children's Services Council come from?

To carry out its mission, the Council is empowered by local referendum (October 2, 1990) to access an ad valorem tax up to one-half mill ($0.50 per $1,000) of non-exempt property evaluation. The Council's current millage rate is : 0.4765.

On average, a St. Lucie County homeowner pays $33 per year. Those funds are used locally to help kids stay off the streets, to reduce incidences of child abuse, to keep kids off drugs and alcohol and to make sure every baby is a healthy baby.

5. Who benefits from programs supported by the Children's Services Council of St. Lucie County?

The entire community, including children, parents, grandparents, educators, law enforcement officers, judges and the juvenile justice system  all benefit from programs supported by the Children's Services Council. In addition, those programs may also support doctors, health care workers, childcare centers, non-profit organizations, and social service agencies.

Because of the programs funded by the Children's Services Council our community remains healthy, safe and strong. Our children are more likely to stay on a positive path, graduate from high school and become productive citizens. By addressing the needs of our neighbors, we strengthen our economy and ensure that our community is a desirable place to live, work and play.

6. How does the Children’s Services Council monitor the programs it funds?

Funded programs are evaluated on an on-going basis to assess their accomplishments towards achieving program goals. Additionally, programs are funded on a reimbursement basis allowing for monthly fiscal review. A Program Accountability Report is published twice each year detailing program progress toward reaching their outcomes.