Recent grants support Safe Children Coalition programs

Safe Children Coalition has recently received support totaling $7,000 for two signature prevention and diversion programs aimed at giving area children a boost in education and life. The funders and programs supported are: Florida Literacy Coalition, $5,500 for the HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) program, and Wawa Foundation, $1,500 to support the Achievers teen leadership program.

HIPPY is a home-based, family-focused program that helps parents provide educational enrichment for their preschool-aged child(ren). The program, which is designed to remove barriers to participation in education, supports parents who may not feel sufficiently confident to prepare their children for school. HIPPY's primary goal is to ensure children are kindergarten-ready, offering the greatest possibility that they will succeed in school and, ultimately, in life. In the 2024-2025 school year more than 100 children were served through the HIPPY program.

The Achievers program empowers at-risk, minority and other disadvantaged students to set and achieve goals in both their educational and personal lives, encouraging continuous growth in the areas of personal development, college preparation, community service and leadership, cultural enrichment, and career options. The program ultimately increases student participation in school programs, decreases school absenteeism and dropout rates, and prevents delinquent behavior.

The program, which has served thousands of students in the community for over 30 years, is open to all middle and high school students in Sarasota County. Over 120 students participated in the Achievers program during the 2024-2025 school year.

“We’re thankful for the critical support of our prevention and diversion programs from generous foundations and individuals concerned not only with protecting children but also giving them a fair shot at a happy, healthy and successful life – regardless of the challenges they’ve experienced,” said Safe Children Coalition President & CEO Brena Slater. “We are immensely grateful to the Florida Literacy Council and Wawa Foundation for their ongoing support for our work on behalf of our community’s families and children.”

For more about SCC’s programs to strengthen families and protect children, visit sccfl.org.

About Safe Children Coalition
Safe Children Coalition, Inc. (SCC) serves as the lead agency for community-based care for Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. SCC is a collaboration between local community agencies who provide services to children and families in need. SCC is committed to protecting children and youth, strengthening families, and building community. The core functions provided by SCC include child welfare case management, foster care, adoption, independent living, prevention, diversion, quality management, and support services. Visit sccfl.org or call 941-371-4799.