Investment will support training for interns and staff to provide mental and behavioral support to families, children, and individuals in South Florida
January 3, 2023 – Housing Partnership, Inc. d.b.a Community Partners of South Florida (CPSFL) announced that they will receive an investment of $300,000 over three years from the Florida Blue Foundation. The grant will support training and development for mental health professionals and interns at the Riviera Beach-based nonprofit. Training will enhance the skills of practitioners who provide in-person and telehealth mental and behavioral health support to thousands of residents in Palm Beach County, a need that has increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Florida Blue Foundation investment in CPSFL will help address devastating shortages by expanding the capabilities of professionals and providing experience for interns seeking to advance in their professions. According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, the current supply of Florida’s working mental health professionals meets only 21% of the state’s need. CPSFL is feeling the effects of the shortage first-hand in Palm Beach County.
“We are experiencing incredibly high demand for mental health professionals and services so this investment from the Florida Blue Foundation will help us move families, children, and individuals from having mental health issues to living healthy and well,” said Scott Hansel, CEO of Community Partners of South Florida. “When our employees are trained and supported, they provide quality services so residents can thrive.”
Using the comprehensive community development model, an intentional approach aimed at improving lives and strengthening communities, CPSFL has invested in neighborhoods and connected residents to opportunities for over 36 years. Programs engage participants with tools to strengthen their families, build skills, improve credit, and find permanent housing.
“Community Partners of South Florida was selected based on their documented expertise and experience in the delivery of mental well-being services for families, children, individuals and communities,” said Susan Towler, executive director of the Florida Blue Foundation. “With this grant we can help ensure these programs will continue to broaden and enhance mental health services at a time when communities need them the most.”
CPSFL’s training and ongoing supervisory support for mental health staff and interns is led by professionals who hold Doctorate of Social Work, PhD, and PsyD qualifications. Best practices for providing trauma-informed care, treating co-occurring disorders, adverse childhood experiences, traumatic grief, and engagement strategies are all part of onboarding and ongoing supervision of staff.
Ljubica “Jibby” Ciric, PsyD, who leads the Child and Family Mental Health department at CPSFL as vice president, sees the impact the Florida Blue Foundation investment will make on staff and the community. “Front-loading skills and supervision for new clinicians and interns provides a solid foundation for professionals and better outcomes for clients,” she said. “We are proud to partner with Florida Blue Foundation. They see the value of providing high-quality mental and behavioral health care to the most vulnerable residents living at or below poverty in our community.”
ABOUT COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Housing Partnership, Inc., doing business as Community Partners of South Florida (CPSFL), is a comprehensive community development 501(c)3 nonprofit agency headquartered in Riviera Beach that connects communities with equitable access to housing and financial literacy, child and family behavioral health, and community-based programs all designed to help families thrive. CPSFL’s core focus is revitalizing neighborhoods by investing in people, infrastructure, and economic development. The annual budget is approximately $17 million with 220 staff. CPSFL is a chartered affiliate of NeighborWorks America, a national, nonpartisan network of organizations striving to make every community a place of opportunity.
For more information visit www.cpsfl.org or call 561-841-3500.
ABOUT THE FLORIDA BLUE FOUNDATION
The Florida Blue Foundation enables healthy communities by making grants, building coalitions and embracing solutions that create a meaningful impact in its communities. More than 8 million Floridians have received services as a result of its community investments since its founding in 2001. The Florida Blue Foundation’s programs are focused on advancing mental well-being, improving health equity, impacting food security and addressing systemic racism and resulting health disparities. Florida Blue Foundation is a trade name of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation, Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, please visit www.FloridaBlueFoundation.com.
