HOPE Program

What is the HOPE Program?

  • The HOPE Program is a family preservation program designed to assist families who are involved with the Department of Children and Families with the primary issue being domestic violence. There can be issues of substance abuse with domestic violence.
  • The HOPE Program uses a strength based Family Team Conferencing approach to address the strengths and needs of each family.
  • The goal of the team process is to ensure the safety of children, allow families to have a voice in the planning process and to ensure families are supported and connected with community resources so they do not have to enter the formalized child welfare system.

How do you make a referral to the HOPE Program?

  • The only way a referral can be made to the HOPE program is through a Community Based Staffing.  
  • We don’t take referrals where mental health is the prevalent issue.

What happens after referral is accepted in the HOPE Program?

  • The Child Protective Investigator and HOPE Coordinator must complete a joint visit to the family within 3 days of case acceptance.
  • A family team conference will be held on each family in the HOPE program to assist in identifying support systems and case planning.
  • A case plan will be developed with the family within 3 days of the family team conference.
  • Contact will be made with the family face to face a minimum of twice of a month. The amount of contact will be determined by risk factors.
  • The family will be linked to resources in the community based on their needs. The HOPE Coordinator will follow up on family’s cooperation with services.
  • No decision on a family’s needs will be made without the families input!

HOPE STAFF

Debra Wise-Director of Prevention Services
Debra.Wise@kidscentralinc.org

Brenda VanSickle-HOPE Supervisor
Brenda.Vansickle@kidscentralinc.org

Holly Capps- HOPE Coordinator Marion
Holly.Capps1@kidscentralinc.org

Jennifer Dallner-HOPE Coordinator Hernando 
Jennifer.Dallner@kidscentralinc.org

Virginia Grantham- HOPE Coordinator Citrus
Virginia.Grantham@kidscentralinc.org

Kim Melocchi-HOPE Coordinator Lake/Sumter
Laura.Wheeler@kidscentralinc.org

If more information is needed on the HOPE Program, please contact 
Brenda VanSickle at (352) 387-3525.