Peace River Center is an agency striving to impact the lives of our clients and the community we serve by engaging, restoring, and empowering individuals to reach their fullest potential by offering a broad range of mental health and substance use disorder services as well as victim services throughout Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties. With 27 locations, 30 programs and accreditation from The Joint Commission and licensed by ACHA and DCF we are one of the largest behavioral health agencies in Florida. Our Mobile Mental Health Crisis Response Team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are in need of a crisis counselor, please call the Peace River Crisis Response Team Hotline at (863) 519-3744. For more information about Peace River Center, please visit our website peacerivercenter.org.

The mission of Children First is to strengthen children and families by improving the quality of their lives through a comprehensive approach to development, education, health, and well-being. This statement reflects the organization’s underlying aspiration for the successful achievement of Head Start and Early Head Start goals and objectives, and our main priority of kindergarten readiness for the children we serve. Children First Inc. holds the distinction of being a four-time Head Start “Program of Excellence.” Our agency is one of two to received this coveted designation four consecutive times, ranking our program in the top 1% of more than 1,800 nationwide. This designation is awarded to Head Start organizations that consistently demonstrate excellence in program management and service performance, and that continually support the achievement of robust outcomes for at-risk children birth to five years-old, pregnant women, families, and their communities. They must demonstrate financial integrity, program accountability, innovation, compliance with the Head Start Program Performance Standards and other regulations, and comprehensive quality. Only nine other Head Start organizations throughout the country have achieved this level of recognition. Children First is honored to serve children and strengthen families. Our continuous commitment to the mission has been made possible by our generous community and for that we are deeply grateful.

Safe Children Coalition, Inc. provides services for 5,000 children and families in following programs: · Adoptions and Foster Care · Prevention and Diversion · Youth Shelter for runaway teens · HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) · Schoolhouse Link for homeless students in grades K - 12 · Achievers for middle and high school students exploring college and career readiness for first generation and low income students · Adventure Club After School Program · Youth Prevention Services providing counseling to truant, ungovernable, runaway, and homeless youth