The Children’s Trust of Alachua County (CTAC) and Partnership for Strong Families (PFSF) are collaborating to launch Help Me Grow Alachua next month, a free child development program for families with children who are infants up to 8 years old. 

Help Me Grow Alachua is an evidence-based program funded by the CTAC aiming to connect families with community resources like healthcare and childcare in order to help them navigate and address concerns related to child development.  

Families can address questions and concerns about child development, guidance on free developmental and behavioral screenings, and parenting tips and activities for their children through the new program. 

“Support services offered by programs like Help Me Grow Alachua are among the ways we’re working to strengthen families and offer children every opportunity to thrive from birth,” said Marsha Kiner, executive director of CTAC, in a press release. “We’re excited to offer this program and appreciate PFSF joining with us to make this program available to the community through our Family Resource Centers.” 

CTAC funds four Family Resource Centers in Alachua County. PFSF operates two of those centers, the Library Partnership Resource Center and the SWAG Family Resource Center, where Help Me Grow Alachua services will be offered. 

According to a CTAC press release, PFSF is the leading community-based care agency for Florida Judicial Circuits Three and Eight, including Alachua County. The organization is contracted by the Florida Department of Children and Families and provides comprehensive child welfare services to children who are victims of abuse and neglect.  

PFSF works with at-risk families to prevent abuse and reduce the need for foster care placements, serving more than 4,500 children across 13 counties annually. 

The Community Resource Navigator (CRN) program through PFSF is also expanding this year. Established in 2023, CRN operates as a mobile Family Resource Center by embedding a navigator at each community site once or twice a week. Locations are offered in Alachua, Hawthorne, High Springs, Porters Quarters, Waldo and Newberry. 

The partnership between the CTAC and PSF involving Family Resource Center consulting services also led to the building of the One Community Family Resource Center and the Micanopy Family Resource Center last year. The organizations plan to add more Family Resource Centers throughout the county in the future. 

“This invaluable partnership ensures that children and families can readily access the resources they need to thrive, empowering them to succeed while often preventing the need for more formal interventions like child welfare involvement,” said Ginger Griffeth, CEO of PSF, in a press release. “We are deeply grateful for the steadfast support of the CTAC.” 

CTAC and PSF Family Resource Centers: 

• Library Partnership Resource Center (operated by PSF, Help Me Grow Alachua is offered here) 
  Location: 912 N.E. 16th Ave., Gainesville 
  Phone: 352-334-0160 

• SWAG Family Resource Center (operated by PSF, Help Me Grow Alachua is offered here) 
  Location: 807 SW 64th Terr., Gainesville 
  Phone: 352-505-6823 

• One Community Family Resource Center (operated by Pleasant Street Civil Rights and Cultural Arts Center) 
  Location: 1725 SE 1st Ave., Gainesville 
  Phone: 352-283-2185 

• Micanopy Family Resource Center (operated by the Willie Mae Stokes Community Center) 
  Location: 355 NW Eestalustee Ave., Micanopy 
  Phone: 352-466-1136 

Visit a Community Resource Navigator: 

• Alachua Branch Library 
  Location: 14913 NW 140th St., Alachua 
  Hours: 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Mondays, and 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Thursdays 

• Hawthorne Area Resource Center 
  Location: 21923 SE 67th Pl., Hawthorne 
  Hours: 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays 

• High Springs Branch Library 
  Location: 23779 US-27, High Springs 
  Hours: 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Tuesdays 

• Newberry Branch Library 
  Location: 110 S Seaboard Dr., Newberry 
  Hours: 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Wednesdays 

• Porters Community Center 
  Location: 522 SW 3rd St., Gainesville 
  Hours: 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Tuesdays 

• Waldo City Square 
  Location: 14450 NE 148th Ave., Waldo 
  Hours: 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Mondays