Family Heritage
5180 – 62nd Avenue, North
Pinellas Park, FL  33781
Phone: (727) 521-5204
Fax: (727) 521-5210
Email: pat@family-resources.org
Website: www.family-resources.org

Project Director
Pat Gerard

Project Evaluator
Norin Dollard, PhD

Sponsoring Organization
Family Resources, Inc.

The Family Heritage Program provides family preservation and support for kin caregivers with a goal of permanency for the child.  The program is designed to prevent further disruptions and placement of children in emergency shelter care, foster care, delinquency or treatment facilities, and to work toward permanency.

This round-the-clock program provides in-home counseling and case management services to families.  The level of intervention is determined by the family’s goals and needs; however, each family served will receive a minimum of 20 face-to-face in-home visits during an average three-month period of service.  Counselors have small caseloads (6 to 8 families), enabling them to work intensively with a few families in resolving crises, stabilizing the family, and assuring the safety and well-being of the child(ren).  Weekly support groups for caregivers and art therapy for children of HIV positive parents are also offered.

Referrals will be accepted from the lead agency for child welfare services, the YMCA, the HIV/AIDS service community, and the Area Agency on Aging.  Referrals will identify kinship placements that are at risk of disruption due to safety concerns and stress factors that increase the risk of placement of children into foster care.