The Community and Family Services Department
REPORT
Extraordinary Professionals Impacting Communities
Director’s Message
Dear Colleagues, Partners and Friends:
2023 was a banner year for Orange County’s Community and Family Services Department. As Orange County’s leading provider of human and social services, our work impacts communities across Central Florida.
Our department manages many of the County’s most comprehensive assistance programs, helping residents bridge through the hard times and rise to their potential. We also oversee some of our region’s most engaging educational and recreational opportunities, offering unique experiences for all who live, work and play in Central Florida.
This report includes some of our most notable accomplishments of 2023, including the following:
• Through the Citizens’ Commission for Children Division, more than 90 local nonprofit agencies were chosen to establish over 200 new social service programs, providing critically needed resources for county residents.
• Our Community Action Division opened a state-of-the-art Multicultural Center in Pine Hills. The 17,000-square foot facility will serve as a hub for local arts, culture and innovative endeavors for many decades to come.
• The Citizen Resource and Outreach Division managed Orange County’s distribution of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), which has distributed more than $45
million since the start of the pandemic.
• Orange County Parks & Recreation Division had more than 13.6 million individual visits in 2023. For context purposes, that is equivalent to the populations of Orlando plus the cities of New York and Los Angeles.
• The Orange County Regional History Center is the largest and most expansive museum of its kind in Central Florida. In 2023, the museum was honored by several notable publications and organizations for its masterful storytelling.
The achievements spotlighted within this report were accomplished through the tireless efforts of our more than 1,000 public servants. Many of our staff view their work as much more than just a job. It is their personal calling. Their dedication to public service and the overall wellbeing of Orange County residents is admirable and the reason we are able to accomplish so much.
I consider it a privilege to lead a team that makes such a momentous social impact. As we look towards the future and craft the strategic plan that will guide us through 2024 and beyond, we reflect on all that we accomplished and the impact we made in 2023, together.
Thank You,
Venerria L. Thomas, Department Director
Board of County Commissioners
Orange County Mayor
Nicole Wilson
Christine Moore
Mayra Uribe
Maribel Gomez Cordero
Emily Bonilla
Mike Scott
Jerry L. Demings
of
5. Citizens’ Commission for Children
Citizen Resource and Outreach
7. Orange County Veterans Services: An EPIC Success Story 8. Community Action 9. Cooperative Extension
10. 4-H Clubs / Peanut Butter Challenge: An EPIC Success Story 11. Fiscal and Operational Support 12. Head Start
13. Head Start Father of the Year: An EPIC Success Story
14. Mental Health and Homelessness
15. Orange County Parks & Recreation
16. Orange County Regional History Center
17. Youth and Family Services
18. Great Oaks Village: An EPIC Success Story
19. Our Community and Family Members
Citizens’ Commission for Children
Citizens’ Review Panel
90
200
1.3
Neighborhood Centers for Families
13
40,000
Working with nonprofit agencies throughout Orange County, the Citizens’ Commission for Children is committed to making strategic investments that better the lives of residents. nonprofit agencies funded centers strategically spread across Orange County.
Afterschool Zone
32
local middle schools carry this afterschool program.
11,000
youth served with educational and recreational programming. unique programs million residents served
residents served with various programs, resources and services.
Citizens Safety Task Force
Played a key role in implementing recommendations for the most comprehensive public safety effort in our region’s recent history.
Citizen Resource and Outreach
Provides information, outreach and social services to a diverse group of Orange County citizens through a variety of programs and services.
Emergency Rental Assistance Program
45 million
This COVID-era, federally funded program has distributed more than $45 million, keeping thousands of residents in their homes.
Orange County Veterans Services
71,000 U.S. military veterans
Provides benefits information and claims-development assistance for Orange County’s 71,000 U.S. military veterans.
Social Services Programs
After a four-year pivot of resources to meet COVID-era demand, the division will re-establish its standard assistance programs in 2024.
Provides permanent housing and supportive services to chronically homeless residents.
Shelter Plus Care Office on Disability
Aims to heighten awareness surrounding issues that impact disabled communities as well as support the Disability Advisory Board.
Orange County Veterans Services:
An EPIC Success Story
In May 2023, members of Orange County Veterans Services performed a bedside pinning ceremony for a critically ill Vietnam War Veteran.
James Bunyan Bodden – a career-long civil servant – was unable to attend Orange County’s 2023 War Memorial Commemoration Ceremony.
So, Veterans Services brought the honor to Mr. Bodden’s home. Delivered by program manager Alnita Whitt and her team, the back of the pin read “A Grateful Nation Thanks and Honors You.”
Mr. Bodden passed away within weeks of the ceremony. His family says the pinning ceremony provided a special and memorable last memory of his military service.
“My father was a proud veteran, who served his country bravely in Vietnam,” says Sharon Michelle, Bodden’s daughter. “This occasion honored his memory and his service. My family and I are grateful.”
A part of the Citizen Resource and Outreach Division, Veterans Services routinely goes above and beyond the call of duty for Orange County’s 71,000 military veterans.
In addition to helping veterans navigate government resources and services, the organization is in full support of the Orange County Mayor’s Veterans Advisory Council, our County’s leading advocate for area veteran communities.
Community Action
Orange County Community Action works to enhance life quality and promote self-sufficiency by mobilizing socioeconomic resources, collaborations and partnerships.
Utility Assistance Programs
7,400 households
1,500 households helped by the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Aided by the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP).
Orange County Multicultural Center
17,000 square-foot
state-of-the-art facility, which will serve as a hub for arts, culture and innovation endeavors for decades to come.
Office
on Aging Community Action Centers
Keeps Central Florida seniors informed on resources available for the region’s aging communities.
250,000
site visits, providing a wide range of social services and resources.The nine centers are strategically placed countywide.
Family Self Sufficiency Program
1,350
individuals served through vocational training, tuition assistance, support services and career referrals.
Cooperative Extension
A unique partnership between the USDA, University of Florida and Orange County, the Cooperative Extension Division provides local communities with education on family life, youth development, natural resources, horticulture, and agriculture.
2023 Peanut Butter Challenge Master Gardener Volunteers
2,300 pounds
120
classes taught, reaching more than 3,200 residents, on gardening and environmental stewardship.
Hosted the 30th Anniversary Celebration for Florida’s premier Extension program that promotes sustainable alternatives to conventional landscaping.
1,150 of peanut butter collected, benefiting local homeless shelters during the holiday season.
helped two dozen participants lower their HbA1c, increase physical activity minutes, and change eating patterns.
2,000
plant and disease diagnostics as well as nearly 1,500 consultations.
trees distributed to Orange County residents to enhance landscapes, promote wildlife habitat, and support environmental conservation.
4-H Clubs / Peanut Butter Challenge:
An EPIC Success Story
Our Cooperative Extension Division’s various 4-H Youth Development Clubs played an integral role in Orange County winning second place in Florida’s 2023 Peanut Butter Challenge.
Held annually in October, Cooperative Extension collected more than 2,300 pounds of peanut butter for the yearly challenge among Florida’s 67 counties. Proceeds for this statewide food drive go to local food pantries, feeding impoverished families during the holiday season.
More than 27,000 pounds of peanut butter – enough to make nearly 450,000 peanut butter sandwiches – were collected across the state.
One-third of Orange County’s collection came from the collective efforts of 4-H Youth Development Club members.
Local teens in the county’s clubs spearheaded collection efforts and delivered the peanut butter to nearly a dozen Orange County food pantries just before Thanksgiving.
Year-round, 4-H club members participate in life-enriching health, science, agriculture, and civic engagement activities. These experiences help them grow to be overachievers in all aspects of life.
Larry Middour – a national archery champion and Orange County 4-H leader – was one of five 2023 inductees into the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame. In his Hall of Fame speech, Middour credited 4-H with instilling in him the fundamentals of discipline, drive, good character, and work ethic.
Fiscal and Operational Support
Provides budgetary management and oversight over the Department’s ten divisions as well as guidance on county-government policies and procedures.
$250 million 17,000
Managed the Department’s budget of more than $250 million, including multiple federal and state grants.
Responsible for exploring, developing and implementing innovative business best practices to keep department operations running efficiently. Department Budget
Processed over 17,000 payment lines.
Develops our annual budget presentation to the Board of County Commissioners.
Head Start
Orange County Head Start is Central Florida’s preeminent early childhood education program for lowincome families.
Enrollment
1,536 local children
Annually, 1,536 local children enroll in Orange County Head Start’s 23 centers, making us one of the largest programs in Florida.
New Centers
2
Orange County opened two new Head Start centers at area elementary schools.
School Ready
94 percent
Approximately 94-percent – higher than the national and state averages – of Orange County Head Start students were considered “school ready” and transitioned satisfactorily into kindergarten.
Innovative Training
All teachers and aides participated in training that further developed their skills in supporting students’ mental and emotional health.
Health Services
85 percent
Over 85-percent of Head Start students receive some form of health services at the centers, including medical exams, dental treatments, and vaccinations.
Guest Readers Month
865 guest-reader volunteer readers
865 volunteer readers – breaking our previous record – participated in the annual campaign, championing early childhood literacy.
Head Start Father of the Year:
An EPIC Success Story
Darnellion Brown is the Florida Head Start Association’s 2023 Father of the Year.
An Orlando native and Orange County Head Start employee, Brown was honored for his ongoing efforts to increase parental engagement within Orange County’s 23 Head Start centers.
A Head Start student as a child, Brown serves as the Fatherhood Parent Liaison for Orange County Head Start. In this role, he spearheads initiatives to encourage fathers to take a more hands-on approach to parenting. He has provided one-on-one mentorship to over a dozen fathers since accepting the role in 2021.
Additionally, Brown serves as chairperson for Orange County Head Start’s Policy Council, the local branch’s governing board. In that role, he works with Head Start’s director, state office, and the Board of County Commissioners on the program’s overarching direction and annual goals.
Most notably, Brown is a Head Start father, a responsibility he calls his life’s greatest honor.
“Becoming a father changed my life and how I view the world,” said Brown, whose 4-year-old son, Darwin, is a student at the Callahan Head Start Center in Parramore. “I take pride in being a great dad, and I want to help other Head Start fathers do the same.”
Mental Health and Homelessness
Working with some of the County’s most ardent nonprofit providers, the Mental Health and Homelessness Division provides essential resources to improve the quality of life for individuals and families across Central Florida.
Mental and Behavioral System of Care Community Analysis
Continues to lead implementation efforts for the most comprehensive mental health needs assessment in our region’s history.
Daily Drop-in Services
75,000 services
More than 75,000 services were provided – including showers, laundry, and case management – to more than 2,400 residents in need.
Behavioral Health Services
Over 300 residents accessed behavioral health services at the drop-in centers.
Shelter Entry Diversion
1,300 175
Over 1,300 clients were diverted from shelter entry through various measures, including relocation/family reunification, move-in assistance, or other safe alternatives.
Over 175 youth were served by a coordinated system of services for children with emotional disturbances.
Orange County Parks & Recreation
13.6 million site visits
Equal to the populations of Orlando plus that of New York City and Los Angeles.
Facilities
Nearly two dozen facilities, including fitness, recreation and senior centers as well as campgrounds, a swimming pool and splashpads, dog parks and public boat ramps.
Land Size
15,000 acres
Comprising more than 15,000 acres of land across Orange County.
Groundbreakings
Both new parks and expansions include projects such as Dr. Phillips Ballfield Complex, Taborfield Park, Summerlake Park, and Downey Park Pickleball Courts.
The Parks & Recreation Division oversees more than 110 parks and trails and provides a wealth of recreational activities to Central Florida’s residents and visitors.
Ribbon Cuttings
The opening of new amenities included a skate park within Barnett Park, a covered arena for Clarcona Horse Park, and several new dog parks.
A wealth of unique annual events, including the Mayor’s Jazz in the Park, Fort Christmas Blue Grass Festival, and the entire 2023 Movies in the Park Series.
Orange County Regional History Center
Covering more than 14,000 years of Central Florida’s history, the Orange County Regional History Center is our area’s largest history museum.
Elite Credentials
An American Alliance of Museums-accredited, Smithsonian-affiliated institution.
By popular demand, the special exhibition on Orlando’s underground music scene continues its award-winning, two-year run.
Educating Youth
17,600
Approximately 17,600 school-aged children have been served with innovative, exciting educational experiences.
Awards
From such notable organizations as the Florida Historical Society, American Association for State and Local History, and the Southeastern Museums Conference.
200
Public Research
Fulfilled nearly 200 research library requests, totaling more than 120 hours of support.
Hosted
300
Nearly 300 public programs as well as weddings and other private events.
Media Accolades
Recognized by such notable publications as Orlando Magazine, Playground Magazine, and Orlando Family Magazine.
Youth and Family Services
Parenting Support Squad
150
total individuals served by teen parenting program, striving to keep clients progressing in school and become more effective care givers.
Juvenile Assessment Center
6,000
Changing Adolescents’ Perspectives Program (CAP)
90
Over 90-percent short term success rate at preventing juvenile recidivism for the nearly 200 youth served.
Nearly 6,000 individuals received health screenings by centralized processing center for youth taken into custody by law enforcement.
The Youth and Family Services Division manages a network of programs, resources and services that form a safety net for children and families.
Family Preservation & Stabilization
115
Over 115 families served by specialized counseling services for those whose children are at risk of removal due to abuse or neglect.
Orange County Youth Shelter Family Counseling
350
individuals provided mental health counseling for families struggling with troubled adolescents and teenagers.
300
served by temporary housing facility. Youth at the shelter may be homeless, runaways, lockouts, or may be seeking a cooling off period.
Great Oaks Village:
An EPIC Success Story
Alicia Virkler credits Great Oaks Village – Florida’s largest and oldest residential foster care group home – for helping her grow into who she is today.
Removed from her birth home at the age of ten, due to abuse and neglect, Virkler lived within Great Oaks Village for nearly a decade. Within the group home, Virkler says she learned essential tools for life, including extensive educational resources and financialmanagement skills.
“Great Oaks Village saved my life,” says Virkler, now a mother of two, who still resides in Orange County. “I became the person I am today because of the experiences and life lessons that I attained at Great Oaks Village.”
A part of the Youth and Family Services Division, Great Oaks Village has been serving Central Florida families for more than 100 years. Today, as many as 46 area youth – ranging in age from infancy to 21 – may reside within Great Oaks Village.
Widely respected as an innovator in foster care delivery, all Great Oaks Village youth are eligible for the wide range of resources that Youth and Family Services provides. These include family counseling, mentorship programs, and various educational services. Additionally, all school-aged children at the group home attend local public schools and participate in recreational activities, on and off campus.
“Great Oaks Village is a haven for children across Central Florida,” says Barbara Williams, the division manager for Youth and Family Services. “We are a safe space for youth to grow and thrive.”
A Few Members of Our Community and Family
The Community and Family Services Department
Where Joy Lives, Hope Grows, and Help Happens
