Hillsborough County Children's Board

  

e-newsletter 

January 2021
    
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A MESSAGE FROM
  KELLEY PARRIS,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Executive Director, Kelley Parris

Dear Partners and Advocates,  
 
This last year, has been bizarre and had its fair share of insurmountable challenges for all of us. The COVID-19 crisis has exposed many of the structural flaws in our larger systems of care and exacerbated the challenges that many minorities and underserved populations continue to face. It has been tough not being able to physically be with our loved ones as we normally would, especially during the holiday season. With that said, we have persevered during these tough times. I continue to be proud of our front line workers, our Board of Directors, Children's Board staff and our provider community for being resilient and continuing to serve children and families in Hillsborough County.
 
As we enter into the New Year, we must remember the importance of respecting and protecting each other. The pandemic is still impacting our community and COVID-19 cases are still on the rise in our county. I strongly encourage everyone to continue to follow CDC guidelines and Hillsborough County mandates of wearing a mask, washing your hands and being socially distant so that we can get through the pandemic.  
 
Many parents and caregivers are spending a lot of time with their children while staying safe at home. It is a great time to teach children the importance of social responsibility and community. I strongly encourage you to teach children that we are not wearing masks for ourselves but for the greater good of our loved ones, friends and neighbors. It takes a collective effort of everyone playing their part to keep our community healthy and safe.
 
Here are a few activities that you can do with your children to teach them how to be kind and do good deeds for others:
  • Have your children write thank you letters to nurses and teachers. 
  • Do a neighborhood clean-up, by picking up trash in your community.
  • Organize an outside neighborhood block party and have fun with your friends and neighbors.
  • Volunteer by making grocery runs for your elderly neighbor or sick loved one.  
I wish everyone a Happy New Year! 

My best, 

Kelley
 
 
 
 
OUR
MISSION 
The Children's Board invests in partnerships and quality programs to support the success of all children and families in Hillsborough County.
 
 
 
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                                    FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
                              


Technical Assistance Grant: Neighborhood Safety Grant

Neighborhood Safety Grants are intended to focus on the safety and wellbeing of children in neighborhoods that reside in recognized neighborhood associations and communities they serve within Hillsborough County. Appropriate neighborhood-specific projects should demonstrate a safety benefit to the neighborhood children and be done in the requesting neighborhood. Last year, six neighborhood associations received funding for their projects. The Technical Assistance Safety Grant projects encourage awarded communities to come together and boost community pride, along with promoting children's overall wellbeing within their neighborhood. 

               Children's Board Mobile Swim Program 
The Children's Board Mobile Swim Program in partnership with the YMCA and Brandon Sports and Aquatics Center has been providing swim lessons at no cost to children ages three to fourteen years old, for the last four years.  This program is also provided to children with disabilities/special abilities all year. We are proud to introduce this video sharing how a little girl with Down Syndrome and her mother have benefited from being enrolled in the program.  Click the link below to watch the video.  
Children's Board Mobile Swim Program, highlighting a child with Special Abilities.
Children's Board Mobile Swim Program, highlighting a child with Special Abilities.


                                     The Balancing Act Show!                  
We are pleased to announce that on Saturday January 30th and Sunday January 31st the Children's Board funded program Learn & Play Tampa Bay in partnership with Glazer Children's Museum will be showcased on The Balancing Act Show. We were given the opportunity to share information about the positive impact that the Learn & Play Tampa Bay program offers children, parents and caregivers. Play is important to a child's development and it allows them to develop lifelong bonds with their caregivers.  The developmental playgroups are offered in the community and virtually at no cost to prepare children for kindergarten,
please visit familysupporthc.org to learn more.  



Air dates and times
Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 12 PM on WTTA MyNetwork.
Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 2 PM on WTTA MyNetwork.

A few pictures from the video shoot