Special Event Advisory - Charity Art Auction

To participate and view auction items online, visit:
www.biddingforgood.com/suncoastcenter

In a special collaboration with artists throughout Florida, this auction will support the Children's Advocacy Center (over 11,000 child abuse reports were reviewed by the team at Suncoast Center), the Rape Crisis Center of Pinellas County (175 adults were evaluated for sexual assault by the Suncoast Center's SAVE team), and Florida Craftsmen (state-wide nonprofit engaging the next generation for the arts).

Tour the site to view a variety of original unique, and several one-of-a-kind pieces of art...guaranteed to delight the fortunate winning bidder!

View event flyer

PARENT AIDE PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Suncoast Center, Inc. is seeking Parent Aide Volunteers.  Adults are needed to share their life experiences and skills with another parent through a nationally recognized mentoring program.  Parent Aide mentors provide friendship, support and advice to parents challenged in raising children in today’s society.  Parent Aide volunteers receive training, guidance and support from program staff and personal satisfaction by assisting another parent.

For more information, view the full announcement, or call Colleen Walker, Program Coordinator, at (727) 543-0677.

FEATURED SERVICE AT SUNCOAST CENTER:  CENTRALIZED INTAKE

Did you know you can make same day appointments at Suncoast Center?  With our innovative Centralized Intake system, one call can help point you in the direction you need.  Same, next, or future day appointments can then be made based on your specific circumstances.  Don't settle for being transferred to several different people on one call in order to receive critical services.  Call Suncoast Center today.

Central Intake:  (727) 388-1220 or Dial 2-1-1 from any phone in Pinellas County

SUNCOAST CENTER SUCCESS STORIES

Story from a Parent Aide Volunteer

I have been a volunteer Parent Aide for 8 years. I began planning for my retirement knowing I would need to find a place to give back to the community by helping others. This organization was just what I wanted. I have been involved with so many families over the years and met wonderful caring moms and lovely children. It takes just a few hours a week and the people I have met have inspired me by their courage and caring. They have given me at least as much as I have given them.

Every one of the families, regardless of their needs, love and want the very best for their children. Many of them need affirmation that they are doing a wonderful job and just need some resources and encouragement to make improvements for the family. Sometimes it has been about discipline, sometimes it has been about scheduling routines, sometimes it has been serious issues of incest or disabilities. The moms are grateful to be able to share concerns after they begin to trust me as a volunteer and the Parent Aide support staff is always there if I need advice or financial advice for the family.

I am grateful for this meaningful opportunity to share with other mothers some of my experience, both as a mom and grandmother and as a retired nurse. It helps me feel needed (which is a secret of life) and keeps me going. I thank the staff for their devotion and encouragement, as well as their great knowledge which they freely share.

~Pamela - Parent Aide Volunteer

Family Therapy

This letter is being sent as a sincere thanks on the behalf of me and my daughter for the excellent quality of care and amount of patience shown in improving my family with services through your program. The facilitator and program provider aided me and my daughter with a loving and structural learning environment during our sessions. We were even provided additional sources that can possibly aid in the future. We are a stronger family thanks to the lessons and structure we both received in the above program.

~Client Name Withheld

Total Family Strategy

Having completed the TFS program, I can’t help but look back at where I thought I was going and where I ended up. I started the program and immediately made use of the couple’s counseling that is available. I was in an unhealthy relationship and didn't know it. I didn’t really work outside the home and didn’t have much of a life outside of my relationship and being a mother to our son. My self-esteem and confidence had really dwindled to nothing. After trying for several months to get our relationship on track I decided to get myself on track. I enrolled in one college course, got an A and that was enough to boost my self-esteem to convince me to go for it.

I’m now in my third semester with a full-time course load and doing a lot of hard work toward my B.A. in Nursing. I am also now a single mom. It was a difficult and painful decision to leave. I had financial security and the comfort of what was so familiar for several years. What I needed was love and respect. It made sense that I should love myself enough to walk away. I also didn’t want my son to grow up thinking it was okay to not respect women, especially his own mom. Now I know that he will grow up seeing a strong and confident woman as his role model for what women can be. The changes I have made have been hard. My classes are hard and being a single mom and full-time student (which means being broke ALL the time) is hard. I am still glad about the work and struggle I have chosen because I know where this journey will take me and it’s going to be better than any place I’ve been before.

~Lisa, TFS family

Thank you to the Juvenile Welfare Board for their support of Survivors of sexual violence, and for their production of a video highlighting this year's Illuminating Hope (Survivors Speak) event that took place April 30, 2013.. 

Click below for links to the video and photos of the artwork created by Survivors.

Illuminating Hope - YouTube
Illuminating Hope - Photos