ABOUT KIDS CENTRAL

ABOUT KIDS CENTRAL

Florida legislature privatized child abuse treatment and prevention. Formed in 2003, Kids Central is the lead agency responsible for coordinating and delivering services to children in foster care and their families. Using the community-based model increases local community ownership by building a network of community providers to engage in delivering services. Kids Central serves Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit comprised of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties.

Kids Central, Inc. is a community-based care lead agency contracted with the Department of Children and Families.

Our Mission

At Kids Central, our mission of service, excellence, and caring is reflected in everything we do. We are dedicated to achieving measurable, positive outcomes for children and families in the Central Florida communities we serve. Please join us in creating brighter futures for children and families.

  • Protecting Children:
    Child safety is of utmost concern. Through child abuse prevention programming, diversion services, and case management coordination. Kids Central puts the safety and well-being of children first.

  • Supporting Families:
    Kids Central understands the importance of a family unit. If safely possible, we work to keep families together and strive to bring them back together through case management coordination and diversion support services.

  • Engaging Communities:
    As the lead community-based care organization, the community’s support and commitment are integral to Kids Central’s mission. To build a child-centered community-based system of care, Kids Central assesses any gaps in available services, evaluates the needs of the community, and harnesses its strength.

Vision

A community where families are supported so children are nurtured, safe, healthy, and thriving.

Value Statements

  • Integrity:
    We are professional and honest in our working relationships, honor our commitments and hold ourselves to the highest standards of ethics and conduct.

  • Accountability:
    As stewards of the public’s trust, we are responsible, transparent and dependable in our actions.

  • Excellence:
    We strive for excellence in our work, seek ways to continuously improve and ensure staff and partners have the proper competencies and capacity to exceed customer expectations.

  • Empowerment:
    We empower staff, individuals, families, and communities by respecting their diversity, providing the information and authority necessary to make appropriate decisions, and ensuring they have a voice and choice in their future.

  • Collaboration:
    We engage community members, partners, stakeholders and service recipients in order to turn vision into action.

  • Innovation:
    We cultivate a learning, adaptable environment using feedback, data and innovative ideas to improve efficiencies, effectiveness and results.

Kids Central’s Approach

Our approach centers on delivering impactful services that create better outcomes for children and families.

building better lives

Kids Central Logo

As the community-based care lead agency for Circuit 5, Kids Central strives every day to embrace the purpose of building better lives. This is possible through programs, customer service, quality assurance, and community relations. Kids Central continues to concentrate on improving outcomes and achieving results, which in turn changes the lives of the children, families, and the communities served. By utilizing best practices, evidence-based programming, strategic planning, and measurements, Kids Central can quantify its impact.

mission-centered

Kids Central Logo

Each year, Kids Central evaluates its annual business plan, overall strategic plan, and annual Balanced Scorecard ensuring they are aligned and mission-centered. First and foremost, Kids Central focuses on child safety and providing the best service to the families it’s responsible for serving. One manner in which this is accomplished is through constant attention to strategic planning and quality improvement.

proven approach

Council on Accreditation Seal

Our proven approach has earned Kids Central COA accreditation, and we’re the first community-based care lead agency to receive the prestigious Florida Governor’s Sterling Award.

sterling award

In June 2015, Kids Central’s achievements were acknowledged, as Kids Central became a 2015 Governor’s Sterling Award (GSA) recipient. Based on the Baldrige Management Criteria, the Florida Sterling Council awards organizations demonstrating continued performance excellence, recognizing them as role models. To be considered, applicants complete a lengthy self-assessment, implement continuous improvement strategies, benchmark and compare performance to nationally recognized standards, submit a comprehensive written application, and participate in an arduous on-site examination.