Prevention Services

Prevention Services: TRUTH, GAP, KIDS Personal Safety, FPRP, and BRIC

Since 1993, Manatee Children’s Services has offered nationally accredited programs with the mission of preventing child abuse, providing caregiver support, educating at-risk youth, and promoting healthy family functioning. 

Teens and their families face many challenges both in and out of school, including personal safety, human trafficking, social media risks, pregnancy prevention, communication, and relationships. Through the TRUTH program, our Family Advocates provide mentoring and education to support youth ages 10 to 17 and their families in making safe, healthy decisions. The TRUTH program focuses primarily on teen pregnancy prevention, as research shows that children born to teen mothers may be at greater risk for abuse due to increased stress and socioeconomic barriers.

For the year ending September 30, 2024, the TRUTH program served 84 youth. Of those, 30 participants completed six to eight group sessions and demonstrated retention of pregnancy prevention information, as measured by case notes and pre- and post-tests. The program also maintained a 100% success rate in preventing first-time or repeat pregnancies within 18 months of completion, based on case documentation and self-reporting.

When “Laura” began working with TRUTH Advocate Janie Garza, she was withdrawn and struggling to connect with others after witnessing domestic violence and enduring abuse at home. With Janie’s support, Laura gradually built communication skills, gained confidence, and formed new friendships. Janie also helped the family access therapy and safely transition to a home free from fear and dependency.

GAP, a prevention program for kinship caregivers, provides support, mentoring, and resources to relatives raising grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or other family members following removal from the home due to abuse or neglect.

The program offers support groups featuring exceptional guest speakers, parenting workshops, kinship warmline assistance, counseling services, children’s peer groups, advocacy, referrals, holiday food drives, and access to vital community resources. The primary goal is to help ensure that relative caregiver homes remain free from abuse and neglect, supporting family stability and preventing first-time or repeat entry into foster care.

For the year ending September 30, 2024, GAP served 143 children placed with grandparents or other relatives. Of those, 134 remained safely in their kinship homes, free from abuse and neglect, and did not enter or re-enter foster care — resulting in a 94% success rate. The remaining nine children were transitioned to another relative after their caregiver was hospitalized with serious medical complications.

“This group is an amazing team that goes above and beyond to make sure we are all cared for and doing OK,” said a client in our program who was raising her grandchildren off and on since birth. “GAP Advocates helped me through some of the hardest days of my life.”

KIDS Personal Safety provides age-appropriate workshops to children in Manatee County schools, teaching them how to recognize, prevent, and report abuse.

KIDS Advocates use puppets, stories, videos, music, and role-playing to fully engage young children and present information in a way that is memorable and impactful. These interactive presentations help children understand personal safety and empower them to speak up if something is wrong.

For the year ending September 30, 2024, KIDS Personal Safety delivered 672 presentations to 13,474 students across Manatee County schools. As a result of these sessions, 547 students disclosed concerns related to abuse or threats to their personal safety. Additionally, 21 students reported incidents of bullying directly to KIDS staff, with all 21 referred to school guidance counselors for follow-up support. Of the abuse-related concerns, 10 were reported directly to KIDS personnel and subsequently referred to the Florida Abuse Hotlin

“The KIDS Personal Safety lessons have had a great impact on our school by bringing forth those children who were too scared to speak up about bullying. It is so important to teach kids to report bullying if they see it or hear about it and hopefully creating a safe environment for all children in our elementary school.” – Manatee County schoolteacher (anonymous)

FPRP and BRIC are dedicated to helping parents reach their full potential and become their child’s greatest role model.

BRIC offers a 16-week Nurturing Parenting Program where caregivers work one-on-one with a parenting specialist or therapist to develop personalized plans based on their family’s unique needs. As part of the program, all participants also complete Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children, a nationally recognized training on sexual abuse prevention and personal safety.

FPRP supports families in the process of reunification by offering parenting education in both English and Spanish. Parents work closely with an assigned parenting coach to develop a success plan and aim to meet all goals within three to nine months.

Both programs empower parents to build knowledge, reduce stress, identify personal strengths, access community support and resources, and gain the tools needed to reduce the risk of child abuse in the home.

For the year ending September 30, 2024, 97% of at-risk parents (117 out of 121) participating in these programs successfully kept their homes free from verified findings of child abuse at 6, 12, and 18 months following the start of parenting education.

“After attending the Safe Children Coalition’s annual reunification celebration last year and visiting a friend in their transitional living facility shortly thereafter, a mom in our parenting program told herself, ‘Next year, it will be me who’s celebrating being reunified with my child.’ After hard work and dedication, she achieved her goal with the help of MCS parenting coaches and was invited to participate in this year’s celebration – this time as a parent celebrating her own reunification.“ – MCS Parenting Coach

How to help our prevention programs

Art and recreational supplies for family bonding (craft kits, board games, building kits, etc.)
New socks, shoes, and underwear (all sizes)
School uniforms (all sizes)
New household items for reunified families (dishes, bedding, and furniture)
Gift cards for children and families to purchase personal items
Gift cards for family experiences/outings
Gift cards for groceries and gas
General monetary donations for unrestricted funds to support program operating expenses

MCS provides a full spectrum of programs serving over 12,000 children and families annually. Since its inception in 1977 as the Manatee County’s first and only emergency shelter for abused children in foster care, MCS has grown to offer programs in treatment, prevention, intervention, and residential services.

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941-345-1200

Prevention Services

Prevention Services

Prevention Services: TRUTH, GAP, KIDS Personal Safety, FPRP, and BRIC

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