History of Resource Connection for Kids
Manatee Opportunity Council - Our Parent Organization
Resource Connection for Kids - formerly Project Child Care
Expansion and Joint Ventures
Welcome Early Learning Coalition and VPK
Manatee Opportunity Council - Our Parent Organization
Manatee Opportunity Council, Inc. (MOC) began the delivery of social services in Manatee County in 1969 as a result of the Lyndon B. Johnson “ War on Poverty” legislation. As a Community Action Agency, MOC has been charged with the mission of establishing programs and initiatives to assist low-income persons reach a point of economic and social self-sufficiency. Since it’s inception, MOC has developed a variety of services such as Meals on Wheels, Homemaker/Home Chore, Manatee County Head Start, Resource Connection for Kids, LIHEAP, Weatherization, Senior Citizen Centers, Manasota Homeless, and HUD Housing Assistance.MOC is a not for profit 501 (c)(3) organization, operating as a community partner working on behalf of families and children. The Board of Directors of MOC, unique in its tri-partite composition (one-third of the membership represents a community with a high percentage of poverty, one-third the business community, and one-third local government), provides financial oversight, policy development and long/short term planning for the total agency. Members are actively involved in monthly meetings, as well as a variety of committee activities. A Board Liaison is appointed to each of the programs operated by MOC including Resource Connection for Kids.
Resource Connection for Kids - formerly Project Child Care
The largest division within MOC is Resource Connection for Kids (RC4K). Formerly named Project Child Care, RC4K was established in 1985 in response to a Request for Proposal released by the Department of Health and Human Services for a community coordinating childcare agency. Since 1985, RC4K has successfully delivered a variety of services within the scope of the coordinating agency including Child Care Resource and Referral, Eligibility and Enrollment Services, Contract Development and Management, Child Care Payment and Billing, Caring for Kids Initiative, Infant and Toddler Initiative, Quality Assurance, Training and Technical Support, Resource Development, Family Support Services, Developmental and Health Screening and Referral, etc.RC4K, as part of MOC, benefits from the organizational structure of an agency with established and effective policies, procedures and functions related to personnel management, fiscal/budget activities, general administrative services and risk management. With many of the administrative services provided by MOC, RC4K has the ability to concentrate on its mission to coordinate and implement high quality school readiness services to the children and families in our community. RC4K staff members consider themselves as stewards responsible for managing resources efficiently and proactively, and by creating a strong, team-oriented, performance-based professional work environment. Senior leadership hires and maintains dedicated and qualified staff, gives staff the necessary resources, training and support to do their job effectively, and works closely with community partners and collaborators.
Expansion and Joint Ventures
RC4K has successfully initiated and delivered several programs funded through the Children’s Services tax funds administered by Manatee County Government. The programs have been designed to compliment those services delivered through the coordinating agency and include the Mobile Resource Training Program - Community Caboodle, Family Empowerment Project (a developmental screening/referral program), C.A.T.C.H. (speech therapy services), Simplified Point of Entry (childcare financing program for families), Childcare Match program, Child Care Executive Partnership Program, and HIPPY ( Home Instruction for Parent of Preschool Youngsters), RC4K serves as the fiscal agent for the community collaborative project, the Whole Child Project Manatee. RC4K successfully bid on the Healthy Families Manatee program that was initiated by Healthy Families Florida in 1997, and delivers the program through a unique collaboration with three other social service agencies, all co-located with RC4K. These partners include the Manatee County Health Department, Lifelink Child and Family Services and Manatee Children’s Services.Welcome Early Learning Coalition and VPK
In 2000, the Florida Legislature established the local School Readiness Coalition delivery system for school readiness services statewide. The Coalition’s name has changed to the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, Inc., and RC4K serves as the service provider for many of the activities and services of the Coalition including the most recent addition, the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program.With the vision that all children in Manatee County will grow and develop with strong, healthy families, supported by strong, community-based programs, RC4K continues to develop programs and services that support children and families in Manatee County.