Information & Resources for Marion County

 

[Scroll to bottom for Recreation, Social Services, and Support Groups]

 

Local Advocacy & Resource Organizations

 

Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida

The CILNCF serves 16 counties in the North Central Florida region from (4) four locations.  Our organization provides services to individuals on a cross-disability basis and is consumer-controlled, having at least 51% people with disabilities comprising both governing board of directors as well as staff.  Our center delivers the four-core services of the Independent Living Program which includes Advocacy, Information and Referral, Peer Support, and Independent Living Skills Education.

Hernando County Office:  Career Central Hernando, 7361 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill, FL 34606   1 (877) ADA-VAN1 

Citrus County Office:  3774 W. Gulf to Lake Hwy., Lecanto, FL 34461

(352) 527-8399   Toll Free (877) 232-8261

Marion County Office:  3445 NE 24th St., Ocala, FL 34470

Voice (352) 368-3788  TTY (352) 368-2969 

Headquarters:  222 SW 36th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32607

Voice (352) 378-7474  TTY (352) 372-3443  Toll Free (800) 265-5724

Sign Language Interpreting Services Toll Free (877) 629-8840

 

Family Care Council Area 13

Established in 1993 by Florida Statute, the Family Care Council (FCC) advises the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) on the needs of self-advocates and their families.  The 14 local Family Care Councils work with APD in educating, advocating, and empowering families of persons with developmental disabilities (DD).  They also assist APD with the delivery of services to persons receiving Med-Waiver funds.  Statewide Website:  www.fccflorida.org   Click on "13" on map for local contact information.

 

Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS)

FDLRS (pronounced Fiddlers) provides diagnostic and instructional support services to district exceptional student education programs and families of students with exceptionalities statewide. FDLRS supports the State education goals of high student achievement, safe schools, and high performing workforce. FDLRS activities reflect these goals and demonstrate outcomes toward accomplishing them. Statewide Website:  www.paec.org/fdlrsweb/index.htm

 

FDLRS Springs

(Covers Alachua, Citrus, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, and Marion Counties)

3881 N.W. 155th Street

Reddick, FL 32686

(352) 591-4300 or (800) 533-0326  Website:  http://www.marion.k12.fl.us/district/fdlrs/index.cfm

 

Marion County Exceptional Student Education

http://www.marion.k12.fl.us/dept/asi/ess/index.cfm

 

 

Parents Helping Parents of Florida (PHPF)

(covers Marion, Hillsborough, Orange, Seminole, Volusia, and Flagler counties)

Encouraging parent involvement by raising parent awareness.  Parent-run organization offering local support groups, information on resources and services, and hosts informational conferences.

P.O. Box 830802

Ocala, FL 34483-0802

Website:  www.phpf-fountain.org

Marion County Contact:  Julie Boisvert, Program Director (352) 861-0057

Hillsborough County Contact:  Beverly McMurray, Program Director bmcmurray@phpf-fountain.org

Orange, Seminole, Volusia, Flagler:  Jennifer Moss, Program Director  jmoss@phpf-fountain.org

 

Step By Step Success

(Marion & Hernando counties)

Ocala, FL    352-425-0385   Website:  www.step-by-stepsuccess.net

Provides services to both children and adults having developmental disabilities.  Our focus is improving the lives of these individuals by providing a range of services from behavior interventions and communication training, to academic success and social skills development.  Each program is developed, trained, and implemented by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.  Offers respite care, parent training, and a monthly social skills group. 

 

 

Recreation

 

Step By Step Summer Bash Program

(Marion & Hernando counties)

For children with developmental disabilities.  Come join us for a summer full of exciting activities such as trips to the water parks, bowling, lunches at the lake, fun-filled days at the park and much much more.  Children will have a chance to work on social skills, appropriate community skills, all while enjoying all that the summer has to offer.  Enrollment is open for children ages 3 to 18 and siblings are invited to join the fun.  We will hold two sessions.  Each session is 4 weeks long and runs three days a week (Wednesday through Friday) from 9:00am to 1:00pm.The cost of attendance is $110.00 per week and includes admission into all activities, snacks, and lunch on designated days.  Please remember that space is limited.  Ocala, FL    352-425-0385  

Website:  www.step-by-stepsuccess.net

 

Social Services

 

Children's Medical Services (CMS)

The Children's Medical Services (CMS) program provides children with special health care needs with a family centered, managed system of care. Children with special health care needs are those children under age 21 whose serious or chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions require extensive preventive and maintenance care beyond that required by typically healthy children.  Website:  http://www.cms-kids.com/default.htm  The website provides contact information by Region of the State.

 

CMS-Ocala

(Covers Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion & Sumter Counties)
1515 E. Silver Springs Blvd., STE  215, Ocala, FL  34470
(352) 369-2100 or 1-888-326-7485
Regional Medical Director: Rick Buciarelli, M.D.
Regional Nursing Director: Sharon Surrency, R.N.
Regional Program Administrator: Cathy Keathley

 

Early Steps

Early Steps is administered by Children's Medical Services (CMS) in accordance with IDEA, Part C.  Early Steps offers early intervention services for families with infants and toddlers (birth to thirty-six months) who have developmental delays or an established condition likely to result in a developmental delay.  Sixteen contracted local Early Steps across the state coordinate with community agencies and other contracted providers for the delivery of needed supports and services. Toll Free Phone:  888-654-440  Website:  http://www.cms-kids.com/Earlystepshome.htm

 

North Central Early Steps

Department of Pediatrics

(Covers Gilchrist, Levy & Marion)

1600 S.W. Archer Road, Room HD 121

Gainesville, FL 32610-0296                                        

352-334-1499 / 352-334-1480/ Fax: 352-392-7829

Fonda Davis-Eyler – Director/ e-mail: eylerfd@peds.ufl.edu

Dominique Fethiere – Coordinator/ e-mail: fethidl@peds.ufl.edu

 

Support Groups

 

Autism Society of Marion County
P.O. Box 255
Reddick, FL 32686
W-352-591-3120
E-Mail - bqdraw@atlantic.net

 

Service Providers

 

NurseCore Private Duty Home Care

NurseCore is a national provider of high-quality homecare; offering unskilled to skilled licensed nursing services hourly and visits 24/7 from pediatrics to adults. Other services available are Private Duty sitting and Medical Staffing for all facilities. Nursecore specializes in caring for spinal cord injuries, brain injuries and ventilator dependant patients. NurseCore is your solution for tough-to-staff continuous care cases.  NurseCore is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  In addition, our Registered Nurse is available 24/7 to assist our employees and patients with any clinical concerns that may arise. Customer service and quality of care is our specialty.  www.NurseCore.net  Ocala Office:

500 S.W. 10th Street, Suite 311, Ocala, FL 34474 / 352-351-4410

 

 

 

Parent Training & Information Center:

Central Florida Parent Center / AWARE Project

Milagros Pou, Diane Joslin, or Eileen Gilley

Home Office - (888) 612-9273

or (727) 789-2400

 

By Location  ◊ For Parents  ◊  For Students  ◊  ListServs  ◊  Bulletin Board/Chat

Resources  ◊  Organizations  ◊  State Agencies