Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis on Tuesday announced an expansion of the Hope Florida initiative, with a new pilot program placing dedicated liaisons within select Florida schools. The announcement, made in Fruitland Park, signifies a strategic effort to connect students, parents, and school staff with vital community resources through the established Hope Florida network.
The pilot program, spearheaded by the Florida Department of Education, will identify and train a Hope Florida Liaison in participating schools. These individuals will serve as primary points of contact, equipped to provide information about Hope Florida resources and facilitate connections with Hope Navigators when more intensive support is needed.
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Additionally, the liaisons will bridge the gap between local community providers, non-profit organizations, and faith-based groups already active in the school community and the Hope Line, ensuring streamlined support for those who reach out.
“Today, First Lady Casey DeSantis and I were proud to announce that the Florida Department of Education is piloting a program that identifies and trains a Hope Florida liaison in select schools,” stated Governor Ron DeSantis. “We hope school districts throughout Florida will take advantage of Hope Florida to help students and their families overcome obstacles by connecting those in need with those in the nonprofit, private, and faith sectors who are willing to help.”
First Lady Casey DeSantis, who has championed the Hope Florida initiative, emphasized the program’s potential to provide direct access to support. “Having Hope Florida resources in our schools will help every parent or child to have a direct line to hope,” she said.
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Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. echoed this sentiment, highlighting the positive impact on educational outcomes. “Hope Florida is an incredible resource for Florida families,” said Commissioner Diaz. “Through this expansion of Hope Florida, we are better supporting the short-term and long-term needs of our students and their families, which leads to better educational outcomes. I thank the Governor and First Lady for their leadership and dedication to Florida’s students.”
Since its integration with the Department of Education in October of last year, Hope Florida’s Hope Navigators have already been instrumental in assisting families, particularly those with children aged 3-5 with special learning needs. Their services include connecting families with screening and evaluation services, navigating school choice programs, and providing access to early learning resources.
The Hope Florida initiative, driven by the First Lady, operates on a model of collaboration, bringing together the private sector, faith-based community, and nonprofits.
Hope Navigators play a crucial role in guiding individuals through available resources, aiming to foster economic prosperity and self-sufficiency.
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