The McCune Family Foundation awarded The Florida Center for Early Childhood, southwest Florida’s leading provider of therapeutic services, with a $75,000 grant to help provide therapies and supports for children with high intensity needs.

The Florida Center for Early Childhood has campuses in Sarasota and North Port to address the development of the whole child and their family. The services offered include behavior, speech occupational therapies, the Healthy Families child abuse prevention program, and early childhood education at the Starfish Academy. In 2017, The Florida Center helped introduce the Early Childhood Court to address the needs of local children affected by the opioid epidemic.

Over the past two years, The Florida Center saw an increase in the number of children needing multiple therapies and support, but had limited resources to pay for them.

“We are honored that The McCune Family Foundation is continuing its investment in our programs for young children who are academically, economically or socially at-risk,” said The Florida Center’s president and CEO, Kathryn Shea. “Community partnerships like this make it possible for children to receive the early treatment needed to overcome challenges that would otherwise impact their ability to succeed in school and in life.”

The intensive programs provided by The Florida Center decrease risk factors related to child abuse and neglect, educational delay, and behavioral and mental health issues that can prohibit children from meeting their full potential.  The generosity and continued support from the McCune Family Foundation will allow vulnerable children to receive the expert services and support needed to overcome developmental and behavioral challenges that were once obstacles to their success.