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Information & Resources for Pinellas County

 

Go to Social Services,  Recreation,  Support Groups, or Service Providers for Pinellas

 

Local Advocacy & Resource Organizations

 

Caring & Sharing Center for Independent Living (CASCIL)

Serves Pasco & Pinellas Counties

A consumer controlled, community based, cross-disability organization that promotes the empowerment and self-determination of persons with disabilities through its services and advocacy.  A majority of the staff and board of directors are persons with significant disabilities. At CASCIL, you determine what you need to live a more self-determined lifestyle.  We help you to fill those needs whenever possible.  Your goals become our goals.  You are in control.

12552 Belcher Rd S., Largo, Fl 33773

Phone:  727-539-7550  Website:  www.cascil.org

 

Deaf Service Bureau of West Central Florida

The Deaf Service Bureau provides a large range of services including interpreting, employment services, advocacy, help with hearing aids, American Sign Language classes, obtaining clothing and food and assistance with buying a house. The Deaf Service Bureau provides services in 13 counties.  Web:  www.deafservicebureau.org 

St. Pete Office:  4140 49th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33709.
Phone: 866-459-8228 TTY  VP: 727-861-4262

 

Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County

The Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County is a not for profit planning and funding agency focused on early care and education. The goal of the Early Learning Coalition is to prepare all children to enter kindergarten ready to succeed. Additionally, the Coalition supports school age children in continuing academic achievement. The coalition achieves these goals in collaboration with community partners by providing: Child care scholarships; VPK- Florida's FREE Voluntary Prekindergarten program for 4 year olds; Training and technical assistance for child care providers; Developmental, vision and hearing screenings; and Resource and referral information for families looking for child care.  http://elcpinellas.net

 

Family Care Council SunCoast Area

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 "SC" on map for local contact information.

 

Family Center on Deafness

Provides services to households where either a child or parent is deaf or hard of hearing.  Programs include a playgroup for children, a parent network with monthly meetings where child care is provided, tutoring to assist deaf parents in reading to their children, and many other services.  Website:  www.familycenterondeafness.org

 

Families of Kids with Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Inc.

(also serves Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Pasco counties)

Supports child and teen mental health by empowering West Central Florida families through increased community awareness and stigma reduction programs. We passionately strive to involve the whole community in education, care and support programs to reduce stigma and increase self-confidence so all youth may openly be accepted and understood for who they are.

www.familiesofkids.org

 

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 Gulfcoast

(Covers Hernando, Pasco, & Pinellas Counties)

Pinellas County Schools

1960 E. Druid Road

Clearwater, FL 33764

(727) 793-2731  http://www.pcsb.org/ese/FDLRS.html

 

Positive Family Intervention Project

Collaborative effort between the University of South Florida (USF) and the Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (CARD) housed at USF's St. Petersburg campus.  The project is a research study that has been designed to evaluate two approaches to parent education, both of which have been proven to be effective in improving children's behavior.  Parents participating in this study will receive training and assistance in positive behavior support for their young child with a developmental disability.  For more information contact Meme Hieneman, PH.D. at 727-873-4814 or go to:  http://www.stpt.usf.edu/coas/pfi/index.htm

 

Special Kids Dance & Performing Arts

Special Kids Dance & Performing Arts is a nonprofit organization that offers dance and performing arts programs to kids and young adults with special needs. Their mission is to provide instruction to improve fitness, focus, muscle strength, coordination, balance, self-confidence and social skills. Program also offers a Tae-Kwon-Do class, and welcomes siblings.  Classes are held at: 

Lighthouse of Pinellas, 6925 - 112th Circle N. Suite 103, Largo, Florida 33773.  For more information see website or call Lisa Fultz at (727) 394-2636.

www.specialkidsdance.org

 

STatewide Advocacy Network on Disabilities (STAND)

STAND was started in December of 1996 by a diverse, educated group of parents and attorneys who recognized that children with disabilities are misunderstood in the community, by both education professionals and lay persons alike. STAND is concerned with three main topics: advocacy, legal rights, and above all, education.

Mailing Address:  PO Box 172236, Tampa, Florida, 33672-0236

(813) 258-5700  stand@standadvocates.org

 

Upper Pinellas Association for Retarded Citizens (UPARC)

UPARC offers housing, day programs and other services for individuals with develpmental disabilities. UPARC is dedicated to enabling individuals with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities to choose and realize their goals of where and how to live, learn, work, and play.

1501 N. Belcher Rd., Suite 249

Clearwater, FL 33765

(727) 799-3330  www.uparc.com

 

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-St. Petersburg

        (Covers Pasco & Pinellas Counties)
      
3251 3rd Avenue North, STE 130                                
        St. Petersburg, FL  33713
        (727) 893-2775/ 1-800-336-1612
        Regional Medical Director: John Curran, M.D.
        Regional Nursing Director: Joanne Angel, R.N.
        Regional Program Administrator: Patty Kopp

 

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

 

        All Children’s Hospital / Center for Child Development

        Early Steps

        (Covers Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas & Sumter Counties)

        500 7th Avenue South, Department 7470, St. Petersburg, FL 33701                         

        727-767-4403 / 800-374-4334 / Fax: 727-727-6727 or 6721

        Louise Boothby-Llorente – Director, e-mail: LLorenteL@allkids.org

 

Coordinated Child Care of Pinellas County

Assists Pinellas County families with finding child care, helps low/middle income families pay for child care, provides improvement resources for child care providers, and provides other family support and education services.  (727) 547-5700  Website:  www.childcarepinellas.org

 

Head Start Pinellas County

Pinellas County Head Start/Early Head Start is a federally funded comprehensive child development program. It serves low income children from birth to mandatory school age, their families and expectant mothers.  The purpose of the program is to promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of low-income children through the provision of comprehensive services; and to assist their families.  (727) 547-5900  Website:  www.pinellascountyheadstart.org

 

Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Program

Parents/ Guardians may enroll their children in the VPK Program by contacting Coordinated Child Care of Pinellas, Inc.  Phone:  (727) 547-5700  Website:  www.childcarepinellas.org

 

Recreation

 

Creative Clay Cultural Arts Center

Creative Clay’s mission is to make the arts accessible for every interested member of the community regardless of age, gender, ability and/or race.  Since 1995, Creative Clay has been providing local artists with developmental, physical and/or emotional disabilities an opportunity to pursue their passion for art making. Our arts programs consist of studio and community based activities for exploring unique personal realities in an inventive, professional environment. 

Phone: (727) 825-0515  Website: www.creativeclay.org    E-mail:  spcreativeclay@aol.com

 

Little League Challenger Program

Azalea Little League

2950 75th Street, North, St. Petersburg, FL.

Contact:  Lee or Kathie Fulmer (727) 345-7407

 

Saddle Up Riding Club

Therapeutic Riding Club which provides structured horseback riding sessions to children and adults with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities.  Instructors are nationally certified in therapeutic riding through NARHA and volunteers and horses have been carefully selected and trained for their roles.  Saturdays, from 9am - 12pm. 

For more information see Website:  www.saddleupridingclub.org

 

Seminole Family Aquatic Center

Swim lessons for children with disabilities.  Everyone should learn how to swim regardless of
ability or disability.  Lessons are taught by Dawn Lewellyn, a certified Water Safety Instructor through the American Red Cross and a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. Dawn has over 10 years experience working with children and adults with disabilities. Pre-Registration is Required!  *Must be a Seminole Recreation Member to participate* Call for details or to register:  (727) 397-6085.

 

TopSoccer

Tops Soccer is a soccer program designed specifically for children with special needs.
Volunteer coaches and buddies who help the players are extremely important to the success of this program.  We are always looking for new players and volunteers.  It’s a great service opportunity for kids, ages 9 and up. It’s a fun way for high schoolers to earn community service hours too!  
If you would like to volunteer as a buddy, contact Karen Thompson  kmt86@earthlink.net or Abby Rudderham rudderham2@netzero.net

 

Support Groups

 

CHADD Pinellas County

(Children & Adults with Attention Defecit/ Hyperactivity Disorder)

Pinellas Meetings
Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at Bay Pines Medical Auditorium, Building 20
10000 Bay Pines Blvd. (Alt. US 19), St. Petersburg, FL
Contact Nancy at chaddtampa@yahoo.com
More Info: www.chaddonline.org/chapters

 

Down Syndrome Network of Pinellas (Up With Downs)

P.O. Box 523

Largo, FL 33779

(727) 462-2274    Website:  www.downsyndromenetworkofpinellas.com

E-mail:  upwithdownsofpinellas@yahoo.com

 

Gulf Coast Chapter - Autism Society of America

P.O. Box 21105

St. Petersburg, FL 33742

E-mail:  gulfcoastautism@yahoo.com

 

Infants & Toddlers Support Group

All Children’s Hospital - Early Steps Support Group Meetings.  This is an all-inclusive Support Group for families who have Infants and Toddlers Ages Birth to Three years old with Developmental Disabilities and Delays.   Please Call to RSVP.  (727) 767-6705.  Contact: Paula Keyser  Email: keyserp@allkids.org.  Meetings held at:  All Children's Hospital - Early Steps Program, 500 7th Avenue South, 2nd Floor, St. Petersburg FL 33701 US.

 

Just Us Girls

Therapeutic recreation program for girls ages 10 and up.  It is held in Largo on specific Saturdays from 6pm to 8pm, and each Saturday has a different theme.  Themes range from Etiquette & Dining to Line Dancing to art and crafts.  This program is designed to help girls learn social skills and more.  In order to attend each participant will need to purchase a recreation card.  Prices range from $5 to $85 per year, depending on where you live.  For more information contact Ashley Friend at (727) 518-3016 or afriend@largo.com.

 

Oppositional Defiant Disorder Support Group

Please attend even if you have everything under control - you may be able to help someone else!  Meetings held at:

Clearwater East Library, 2251 Drew Street - Meeting Room B

For more information call:  (727) 736-0002

 

Pinellas Families for Children’s Mental Wellness (PFCMW)
Strives to encourage and empower parents/families to advocate for and seek mental

wellness for their children.  download pdf flyer

The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast
The Gathering Place, Building 100
5771 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33760
For More Information:Debra MacLean, Parent
PFCMW@tampabay.rr.com (727) 345-3239

 

PFLAG Pinellas

Promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. Meets the fourth Saturday of every month from 10 am to 12 noon at:  Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, 3050 First Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33712.

Contact:  Kathy at 727-345-7688, pflag@tampabay.rr.com  or  http://pflagpinellas.org/

National site:  www.pflag.org

 

Service Providers

 

Autism Early Intervention Clinics

ABA Therapy for children and adolescents with autism and other developmental disabilities.

8950 Dr. Martin Luther King Street, North, Suite 170, St. Petersburg, FL 33702

Phone:  (727) 576-7600   Website:  www.autismclinics.com

 

Beth Ingram Therapy Services

Community-based private physical, occupational and speech language therapy practice committed to professional assessment and treatment of a wide variety of functional limitations.  We not only serve pediatric patients birth-21 years of age but also the adult population.  We have six locations in the Tampa Bay region in order to best suit the patient’s needs. 

602 Vonderburg Dr. Suite 200, Brandon, FL 33511 (main office) 

Phone: (813) 653-1149 Website:  www.bethingram.com

Largo Office:  1725 East Bay Drive Largo, Florida.  (Please call the main office for scheduling)

 

Coaching4kids.com

Coaching for Kids teaches children how to effectively communicate and gain experiences in problem solving.  6727 1st Avenue South  Suite 110, Saint Petersburg, FL 33707

Phone: (727) 686-2934    Email: Nancy@coaching4kids.com

Website:  www.coaching4kids.com

 

Healing the Generations

Privately owned rehabilitation company in Pinellas County, Florida. We are a strictly hands-on therapy services provider for infants, children and adults. We provide out-patient, as well as home health services for physical, occupational, speech and massage therapies. 14141 46th Street North, Suite 1202, Clearwater, FL 33762  Phone: ( 727) 535-6746  Spring/Summer 08 Newsletter

 

Harold Lampert, MS, OTR/L

Lampert's Home Therapy, Inc.

8254 118th Avenue North, Suite 100

Largo, FL 3377  Phone:  (727) 541-5304   Fax (727) 546-8527

 

Life Span Services, Inc. - Kurt W. Oster, MSW

I offer fee-based services for children, adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. I have 19 years of personal experience with Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder. I am bi-lingual in English and American Sign Language and am a licensed School Social Worker in New Jersey and Florida. I also have personal experience with IEPs, Special education Services and Child Study Teams. I work for Life Span Services in New Port Richey, Florida. Call our office today for more information or to set up an appointment.

5207 Trouble Creek Road, New Port Richey, FL 34652    Phone:  (727) 847-0069     lifespan@lifespanservices.com    www.lifespanservices.com

 

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    Pinellas County Offices:

1919 Tyrone Blvd. N. St. Petersburg, FL 33710 / 727-345-7009

Branch Director: Ginger Limardi

28805 U.S. Hwy. 19 North Clearwater, FL 33761 / 727-787-2925

Branch Director: Patti Cranford         

 

 

 

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

 

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