So you're thinking of moving
to Florida. Since 1980, Florida's population has grown an average of
873 new residents daily. Many of those newcomers have been among the
ranks of the retired perhaps fulfilling a life-long dream to live closer
to family and friends, or seeking a warmer climate. Many older individuals
considering relocation to Florida contact the Department of Elder
Affairs for information about transitioning to life in the Sunshine
State.
When preparing for a move, younger families usually have a priority
checklist which they use to decide on a new area, including such things
as good schools, reasonable driving time to work, nearby parks and playgrounds,
safe neighborhoods, etc. Older people have some of these same needs,
as well as others that are particularly relevant in the retirement years.
Consider the checklist below. Perhaps it will prompt thinking in an area
of interest or concern which you had not previously considered.
- What will be the employment opportunities for a second career or
the volunteer opportunities in my areas of interest and experience
in the new location?
- For individuals receiving Supplemental Security income and/or
other state supplements, how will monthly income amounts be affected?
- Does someone in the family have a medical need which requires specialized
treatment and how will the new location be able to accommodate that
need?
- Will my current health insurance benefits transfer to the new location?
- Will my legal directives, such as my will, living will, health care
surrogate and other advance directives be honored?
- Have funeral arrangements been made and prepaid? Is the policy "portable," meaning
will it be valid in another state? Do family members know how things
are to be handled when the time comes?
Whether moving from one state to another or from one part of a state to
another is a big decision that requires research. Throughout this packet
are suggested sources of information. For instance, the state Chamber of
Commerce can put you in touch with a local chamber if you write or call:
Florida
Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 11309
136 Bronough Street
Tallahassee, Fl 32302
(850) 425-1200
Many local Chambers have newcomers' guides, housing lists, and city maps
available upon request.
The daily newspaper is a good resource for an overview of an area. It
can provide information about an area's economy, quality of life, cultural
events, political atmosphere, along with classified advertising for housing
and employment data.
Remember to use your public library as a resource. Books on
retirement communities are usually available there, as well as some of
the major daily newspapers.
Establishing Legal Residency
To become a resident of Florida, a person must establish a home or a
permanent dwelling place and demonstrate the intent to make Florida the
place of permanent legal residence. There is no fixed waiting period
required before a person can become a resident. Simply produce proof
of intent to establish residence by filing a sworn statement with the
Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where your new residence is
located. There is a fee, and a driver's license or other picture identification
is required for recording the affidavit.
The residency period required to establish eligibility for the following
may be determined from the date the statement is filed with the Clerk
of the Circuit Court.
1. State or County Employment : There is no residency requirement
for employment with most state or county government agencies; however,
preference may be given to Florida residents.
2. Homestead Exemption : Florida residents are entitled to property
tax exemptions of up to $25,000 on the assessed value of owner-or dependent-occupied
homesteads. An application must be filed with the County Property Appraiser
between January and March of the tax year in order to receive these exemptions.
3. Voting and Jury Duty : Any person who is 18 years of age or
older, a citizen of the United States, and a permanent resident of Florida
and of the county where he or she wishes to qualify to vote, may register
with the Supervisor of Elections when the voter registration books are
open. The books close 30 days before an election and reopen following
the election. Persons selected for jury duty are taken from the roll
of registered voters.
4. School Tuition Fees : Pupils in grades kindergarten through
12 whose parents or guardians are nonresidents of Florida should have
a written Agreement of Transfer of Schools and may be charged a tuition
fee payable at the time the pupil is enrolled. Tuition will be waived
if a parent or guardian has lived in Florida more than one year, has
purchased a home in Florida which is occupied as their residence prior
to the enrollment of the child (or children) in school, and has filed
an affidavit of domicile in the county where the child is enrolled. Fees
may also be waived for certain individuals, such as military personnel.
In order to qualify for in-state tuition fees at the state's public universities
and community colleges, a student (or parent or guardian, if the student
is a dependent) must have resided in Florida for 12 consecutive months
prior to enrollment.
5. Eligibility for Dissolution of Marriage : To obtain a divorce,
one of the parties to the marriage must have lived in Florida for six
months prior to filing the petition.
6. Candidacy for Public Office : All candidates for office must
be U.S. citizens and registered voters in Florida. Candidates for the
offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and the Florida Cabinet must
be at least 30 and have been a Florida resident for the preceding seven
years. Any candidate for the Florida Legislature must be at least 21
and a resident of the district he or she wishes to represent. A candidate
for local office must be a resident of the appropriate district.
7. Driver's License : To operate a motor vehicle in the state,
new residents are required to obtain a Florida driver's license within
30 days of accepting gainful employment, entering children in public
schools, registering to vote, or filing for homestead exemption. Full-time
nonresident students are exempt from this requirement.
8. Motor Vehicle Registration : To operate a motor vehicle on
roads in the state, new residents are required to register their motor
vehicles within 10 days of accepting gainful employment, entering children
in public schools, registering to vote, or filing for the homestead exemption.
Full-time nonresident college students are exempt from this requirement.
9. Noncommercial Fishing and Hunting Licenses : To qualify for
resident statewide licenses, a person must have resided continuously
for six months in Florida. Armed services personnel stationed in Florida
and students enrolled in colleges and universities in the state are considered
residents.
Retirement in Florida
Florida's elder population (people 60 years of age and older) has grown
to over twenty three percent of the state's total population. The counties
with the largest percentages of people age 65 and older are Charlotte
(35%), Highlands (33%), Citrus (32%), and Sarasota (31%).
Retired life in Florida varies according to individual preferences and
budgets. Experts suggest that a potential retiree should travel throughout
the state, renting rather than buying for the firstyear, before making
a decision about a permanent residence. This allows a person to find
a community that provides opportunities for participating in those leisure
interests developed earlier in life or those hobbies he or she may have
always wished to develop.
Climate
As the southernmost state on the U.S. mainland, Florida's climate ranges
from temperate in the north to subtropical in the south. Winter temperatures
range from an average of 51 degrees F in the north to 70 degrees F along
the southern Atlantic coast. Average summer temperatures are remarkably
uniform throughout the state, ranging in the mid-to-low 80s. Precipitation
averages about 50 inches annually, with most of the rain occurring during
the summer months. The year-round semi-tropical climate, moderate rainfall,
abundant sunshine, fresh and sea waters, and freedom from the heavy frost,
snow and ice all combine to make Florida an appealing place to live.
The Florida Department of Elder Affairs does provide a Disaster
Preparedness Guide for those who are unaccustomed to hurricanes
and related weather.
Consumer Protection
Florida cares very much for the welfare of its citizens and makes every
effort to educate them in consumerism and advocate on their behalf when
needed. Below is a sampling of consumer help lines.
Advocacy Center for Persons
with Disabilities
Provides protection and advocacy services. ACPD's mission
is to advance the dignity, equality, self-determination and expressed
choices of individuals with disabilities.
2671 Executive Center Circle W Suite 100
Tallahassee, Fl 32301
1-800-342-0823 (in Florida)
850-488-9071 (out-of-state)
Agency for Health Care Administration
Provides information about licensure of health care facilities, accept
and investigate possible rule or statutory violations by health care practitioners
and conducts statutorily mandated inspections of certain facilities.
(850) 414-7209
Consumer Call Center
(888) 419-3456
Agriculture and Consumer Services
Offers consumer information and processes complaints dealing
with the purchase of consumer goods and services.
1-800-435-7352 (in Florida)
850-488-2221 (out-of-state)
Banking and Finance
Provides information and processes complaints regarding financial institutions,
investment firms, securities, etc.
1-800-848-3792 (in Florida)
850-410-9286 (out-of-state)
Blind Services (Division
of)
Empowers people who are blind and visually impaired to reach self-determined
goals.
1-800-342-1828 (in Florida)
850-488-1330 (out-of-state)
Business and Professional Regulation
Provides information and processes complaints regarding certain licensed
professionals such as engineers, electrical contractors, and funeral directors.
850-487-1395
Department of Finance
Oversees the state's accounting and auditing functions and
helps consumers with problems related to financial services, including
banking, securities and insurance.
Division of Consumer Services
200 East Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Fl 32399-0322
1-800-342-2762 (in Florida)
850-413-3100 (out-of-state)
Elder Helpline Information and
Referral
Provides information about senior programas and services
1-800-96 Elder (1-800-963-5337)
Florida Relay Service
Provides telephone communication between people who use a Telecommunications
Device for the Deaf (TDD) and people who use standard telephones. The
service can be accessed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
1-800-955-8771 (TDD in Florida)
1-800-955-8770 (Voice in Florida)
1-877-955-8773 (espanol)
Florida Telecommunication Relay
Offers a statewide equipment distribution program that provides
specialized telecommunications devices, free of charge, to deaf, hard
of hearing, speech and dual-sensory impaired residents of Florida.
1-800-222-3448
Governor's Citizen's
Assistance
Serves as a connection to the Governor and his staff.
Office of the Governor
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Fl 32399-0001
850-488-4441
Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Consumer Service Center
Neil Kirkman Building
2900 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahasse, Fl 32399-0500
850-922-9000
Library Services of the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Provides information and reading materials needed by Florida Residents who
are unable to use standard print as the result of visual, physical, or reading
disabilities.
1-800-226-6075 (in Florida)
904-239-6000 (out-of-state)
Public Service Commission
Assistance with complaints against a public utility company.
1-800-342-3552 (in Florida)
850-413-6100 (out-of-state)
Social Security Eligibility and Enrollment
Information
Social Security Administration
Office of Public Inquiries
Windsor Park Building
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21235
1-800-772-1213
Veterans' Information
U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs
9500 Bay Pines Boulevard
St. Petersburg, Fl 33708
1-800-827-1000
727-319-7400
Cost of Living
Because Florida has less severe winters than many other parts of the country,
consumers usually spend less on heavy clothing and fuel. Otherwise, depending
on personal taste and standard of living, the cost of living in Florida is
comparable to other states. According to the Governor's Office of Planning
and Budgeting, prices are generally higher in the southern half of the state.
There is no state income tax in Florida. To alleviate the property
tax burden, Florida grants its homeowners relief under a homestead exemption
provision. This exemption is available to any person who holds legal title
to real property in Florida and uses the property as his/her permanent residence.
Florida's unique Homestead Property Tax Deferral Act permits the real estate
tax on a residence that qualifies under the homestead exemption statute to
be deferred.
For more information on Florida taxes, contact Department of Revenue, Tax
Information Services, 1379 Blountstown Highway, Tallahassee, Fl 32304-2716
or call 1-800-352-3671 (Florida only) or 850-488-6800.
Employment
For older individuals seeking employment in Florida there are a number
of resources available and many steps that can be taken before moving to the
state.
Older workers can conduct a self-directed job search through the classified
help wanted ads in newspapers from the area where one is relocating or use
the vast network of employment services offered by the state. The Agency for
Workforce Innovation administers programs like the Senior Community Service
Employment Program, which is a part-time employment program for low-income
persons age 55 or over. Information about employement programs targeting elders
can also be found on Department of Elder Affairs
website.
In order to provide integrated and more efficient customer-oriented services,
Florida, like other states, has expanded its one-stop system, which provides
employers and job seekers with convenient and all-inclusive services. There
is at least one physical location in each area of the state. New job seekers
in Florida should make the one-stop their first stop. Consult the local phone
directory for the address of the one-stop or state employment service office.
The one-stop system is accessible electronically through a series of local
area networks and wide area networks. All of the local and regional Jobs & Benefits
offices, state offices and employment and training organizations, including
older worker programs such as the Senior Community Service Employment Program,
can be located through web sites. There are also links to America's Job Bank
(public employment nationwide), federal jobs, Florida
state jobs and job
search.
Education
As one of the fastest growing states in the nation, Florida has embraced the
challenge of educational excellence. Post-secondary education is accessible
in almost every part of the state. Florida residents may attend one of nine
state-supported universities or twenty-eight state-supported community colleges.
According to the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida has the largest number
of adult education students in the nation with over 60,000 enrolled adults.
Florida State University System provides space-available audit courses with
fees waived to those 60 years of age and older.
Health Care
The State of Florida has the following:
- 272 hospitals (2001)
- 746 nursing homes (2001)
- 35,591 physicians (2001)
- 10,200 dentists (2001)
Medical costs are comparative to those in other states.
For health care information in Florida, contact the Agency for Health Care
Administration (AHCA). AHCA provides health care cost information, free brochures
on hospital, doctor, and/or nursing home charges and advocacy regarding hospital
bills. To order material, such as Guide to Nursing Home Charges in Florida ,
call or write:
Agency for Health Care Administration
The Information Center
2727 Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, Fl 32308-5403
1-888-419-3456 (in Florida)
Also, t o speak to someone about a quality of care and/or billing problem with
a Florida hospital or other health care facility, call (850) 922-3809.
First Coast Service Options, Inc. (FCSOI), the state's Medicare carrier, publishes
a directory which contains the names and addresses for all physicians/suppliers
who filed participation agreements with Medicare. Beneficiaries may obtain
a copy of the "MEDPARD" directory, free of charge, by writing or calling FCSOI:
First Coast Service Options, Inc. (FCSOI)
Health Services Data MEDPARD
P.O. Box 2360
Jacksonville, Fl 32231
1-800-926-6565 (in Florida)
1-904-355-3680 (out-of-state)
For information for Alzheimer's Disease victims and their caregivers, contact:
Suncoast Alzheimer's Information Line
1-800-633-4563 (in Florida)
813-974-4355 (out-of-state)
www.med.usf.edu/suncoast/alzheimer
Housing
Building activity is going strong in Florida so there are many new homes on
the market, along with existing homes. Prices vary, but the average home price
is at or below the national medium. A local newspaper's classified section
is a good place to start with comparison shopping.
Many communities have apartment locator and/or rental services. Long-distance
directory assistance can furnish the number of the service within a particular
community.
Although a popular Florida housing option, condominium living is not for everyone.
According to Florida Retirement Lifestyles , "The condo buyer trades
privacy for convenience. Condo living entails close social relationships with
other owners, adherence to rules and restrictions, and putting the 'community'
first."
Retirement communities can offer totally independent living, varying levels
of assisted living, or a combination of the two. Florida has 2,704 Assisted
Living Facilities and Adult Family Care Homes.
Continuing Care Retirement Facilities (CCRCs) offer life care arrangements
with accommodations for independent housing, assisted living and skilled nursing
on site. The Department of Financial Services regulates the financial solvency
of CCRCs. For more information contact:
Department of Financial Services
200 East Gaines Street, Suite 531
Tallahassee, Fl 32399'0321
1-800-342-2762
The Department of Elder Affairs can provide information about Assisted Living
Facilities, Adult Family Care Homes and Continuing Care Retirement Communities.
For information about licensure of an Assisted Living Facility, Adult Family
Care Homes or a skilled nursing facility in Florida, contact:
Agency for Health Care Administration
Office of Licensure and Certification
2727 Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, Fl 32308
850-487-2515
For a list of Continuing Care Retirement Communities licensed in Florida, contact:
Florida Department of Insurance
Office of Specialty Insurers
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Fl 32399-0300
850-922-3144, ext. 2478
For an information packet on manufactured housing communities in Florida, contact:
Florida Manufactured Housing
Association
2958 Wellington Circle North, Suite 100
Tallahassee, Florida 32308
850-907-9111
Legal Assistance
The Florida Bar, through its Elderly Referral Panel will provide referral
services to a participating attorney by location and by specialty, i.e. "Elder
Law." The Bar can be contacted at the following:
The Florida Bar Lawyer
Referral Unit
650 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahassee, Fl 32399-2300
(850-561-5839)
1-800-342-8011 (in Florida)
Legal Aid and Legal Services offices are available in most communities for people
of low income who cannot afford an attorney. The Elder Helpline Information and
Referral Service located in each Florida county can locate a Legal Services agency
available to elders in their area.
Long Term Care
The Department of Elder Affairs is the Florida state agency responsible for
the planning, development and coordination of long-term care initiatives. Three
primary objectives of the Departments's long term care plan are to:
- help older people remain in their homes and in the community,
- promote wellness in elders, and
- advocate on behalf of older people concerning aging issues.
Through a very competitive process, Florida was one of five states awarded
a State Initiatives in Long-Term Care planning grant. The Department has proposed
a demonstration project which will enable the state to contract with health
plans under prepaid, capitated risk-based arrangements to provide primary,
acute and long-term care services to dually eligible Medicare and Medicaid
recipients.
Protective Services
Elderly people are sometimes neglected, hurt, abused, exploited, or threatened
by others - even those responsible for their physical and emotional health
and well being. In some instances, elders may harm themselves through self
neglect due to mental impairment. Florida law requires that abuse, neglect
or exploitation of an elderly or disabled person be reported by calling:
1-800-96-ABUSE
1-800-962-2873
The State Long Term Care Ombudsman Council uses trained volunteers to inspect
long-term care and assisted living facilities and advocate on behalf of older
residents.
Aging Services
The Department of Elder Affairs is responsible for the oversight
of the following state and federal aging programs:
- Older Americans Act
- Community Care for the Elderly
- Emergency Home Energy Assistance
- Alzheimer's Disease Initiative
- Home Care for the Elderly
- CARES (Comprehensive Assessment and Review of Long Term Care Services
- a nursing home pre-admission screening program)
- Senior Employment
The Florida Department of Children and Families, Office of Aging and Adult Services,
oversees such services as:
- Adult Placement (in Adult Family Care Homes and Adult Living Facilities)
- Adult Protective Services (investigation of adult abuse, neglect and
exploitation)
- Community Care for Disabled Adults (community-based services for people
age 18-59)
- Displaced Homemaker (a retraining program for older workers)
- Supplemental Security Income-Related Programs
Information regarding aging services available in a local community can be obtained
by calling the Elder Helpline Information and Referral Service. Eligibility
requirements and availability of services will vary from county to county.
Transportation
Florida is traversed by Interstate 10 east to west from Jacksonville to Pensacola
and by Interstates 75 and 95 north and south.
Scheduled air carrier service is available at 16 airports and commuter service
is available at over 130 additional public-use airports. Cities in Florida
with major international airports are Miami, Tampa, and Orlando and Jacksonville.
AMTRAK passenger train service currently operates a north/south route from
Jacksonville to Tampa and/or Miami and an east/west route which connects Jacksonville
with New Orleans through Tallahassee.
Travel and Leisure
In the words of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, "Florida is unsurpassed in
leisure time activities. The state's moderate climate and diverse geography
provide an abundance of recreational opportunities which can be enjoyed all
year long -- beach activities, camping, fishing, canoeing, hiking, golf, tennis,
scuba diving, sailing, and boating -- to name only a few."
Major entertainment attractions include Cypress Gardens, Disney World, Epcot,
Busch Gardens, St. Augustine historical district, and Kennedy Space Center.
Museums and historical attractions span the state, as do nationally acclaimed
cultural offerings such as the Miami and Sarasota operas.
Elder Floridians are offered fee exemptions for several recreational fishing
and hunting licenses. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection sponsors
such activities as the Park Volunteer Program, Campground Host Program and
the Senior/Disabled Camping Discount. Details can be obtained from:
Department of Environmental Protection
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard
Tallahassee, Fl 32399-3000
850-488-1554
www.dep.state.Fl.us
Sample Relocation Resources
The public library and bookstores are great sources of relocation information.
In addition to daily newspapers, look for answers to your questions in books
such as the ones listed below:
Where to Retire in Florida : 1999 Edition, Richard & Betty Fox.
A review of 99 Florida cities and towns including a look at longtime hotspots
and many undiscovered havens. Provides information on taxes, costs of living,
health care, climate, recreation and crime rates, with a rating of each town's
potential for retirement living from both male and female perspectives.
Retirement Communities in Florida : 1997, Mary Lucier-Brooks, Pineapple
Press, Inc.. A comparison of the three major types of service-oriented retirement
communities - Continuing Care Retirement Communities, Adult Living Facilities
and Independent Living Rental Retirement Communities. Information based on
cost, facilities, and services with consumer oriented information about meals,
health care, transportation, entertainment, and housekeeping. A directory of
over 250 listings organized by type within four major regions of the state
is included.
The Complete Guide to Life in Florida: 1995-1996 Edition , Barbara
Brumm LaFreniere and Edward LaFreniere, Pineapple Press, Inc., Sarasota, Florida,
1995. Statistics and comparisons on cost of living, the environment, taxes,
transportation, housing, leisure activities, top industries, health care and
other topics of interest.
Making the Move: A Practical Guide to Senior Residential Communities ,
Lettice Stuart, Avon Books, New York, 1997. Information on the ever-increasing
number and variety of senior residential facilities. Explains the concept and
defines the terms and also includes resources, checklists, thinks to look for
and questions to ask.
Florida Retiree's Handbook: Answers to Your Legal and Financial Questions ,
Elwood Phillips, Attorney-at-Law, Pineapple Press, Inc., Sarasota, Florida,
1995. Answers legal and financial questions about buying and selling a home,
owning a condominium or mobile home, renting, taxes and other consumer issues.
Estate Planning in Florida , 2 nd Edition: John T. Berteau, 1997. Complex
legal terms, constantly changing estate tax laws, and the multitude of options
available can be confusing. This book provides advice written in clear terms
for the layperson, and answers questions about the legal and financial aspects
of planning in your estate in Florida.
Volunteerism
In Florida we don't believe in retirement but in recycling in your energy
and wisdom to another part of your life.
Florida is a state whose warmth of climate and warmth of character within
its citizens encourages volunteerism. It is estimated that more than 40,000 people
provide over 4 million volunteer hours in the Florida aging network
annually.
One of the objectives of the Department of Elder Affairs is to promote volunteer
activities which serve the needs of elders. Some of these activities match
elder volunteers with elder recipients and some match the talents and needs
of the young and old.
To explore the possibilities of volunteerism in Florida, call or write:
Department of Elder Affairs
Division of Volunteer and Community Services
4040 Esplanade Way, Suite 260 B
Tallahassee, Fl 32399-7000
850-414-2060
The Elder Helpline Information and Referral Service is also aware of local organizations
and agencies which are eagerly looking for volunteers.
LOCAL LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN COUNCIL COORDINATORS
NORTH WEST FLORIDA
Dannie Reis , Coordinator
Bob Swain, Asst.
3300 N. Pace Blvd., Suite 320
Pensacola, Fl 32505
(850) 595-8013 or SC 695-8013
FAX (850) 595-8016 or SC 695-8016
Serving: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, & Walton
PANHANDLE
Janice Harvey , Coordinator
Kerry DiCaprio, Asst.
2002 Old St. Augustine Road
Suite E43
Tallahassee, Fl 32301
(850) 921-4703 or S/C 291-4703
FAX (850) 921-4804
Serving: Holmes, Jackson, Washington, Bay, Calhoun, Gadsden, Liberty, Gulf,
Franklin, Leon, Madison, Taylor, Jefferson, & Wakulla
NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA
Jody Dolsberry , Coordinator
Andrea Little, Asst.
P.O. Box 390, Box 5
Gainesville, Fl., 32602
1000 NE 16th.Ave; Bldg. H, Rm120
Gainesville, Fl 32601
(352) 955-5015 or S/C 625-5015
FAX (352) 334-1695 or S/C 625-1695
Serving: Hamilton, Suwannee, Columbia, Lafayette, Dixie, Levy, Union, Putnam,
Alachua, Bradford, & Gilchrist
WITHLACOOCHEE AREA
Maureen Anderson , Coordinator
Marianne Melecio, Asst.
3001 W. Silver Springs Blvd
Building A Room 135
Ocala, Fl 34475
(352) 620-3088 or S/C 667-3088
FAX (352) 732-1407 or S/C 667-1407
Serving: Marion, Citrus, Hernando, Sumter, & Lake
FIRST COAST
Gloria Nebrich , Coordinator
Nancy Ayscue, Asst.
5920 Arlington Expressway
Jacksonville, Fl 32231
(904) 723-2058 or SC 841-2058
FAX (904) 723-2159 or SC 841-2159
Serving: Nassau, Baker, Duval, Clay, & St. Johns
FIRST COAST SOUTH
Michael Monlezun , Coordinator
Mahlon McNeil, Asst.
160 N. Beach St.
Suite 204
Daytona Beach, Fl 32114
(386) 226-7846
FAX (386) 226-7849
Serving: Volusia and Flagler
MID & SOUTH PINELLAS
Betty Camblor , Coordinator
Ingrid Burton & Becky Smalley, Asst.
11351 Ulmerton Road, Suite 100
Largo, Fl 33778
(727) 588-6912 or S/C 513-2707
FAX (727) 588-3648 or S/C 513-1932
Serving: Mid & South Pinellas (Belleair Rd. in Clearwater + South)
PASCO & NORTH PINELLAS
Pat Sovonick , Coordinator
Helen Costa-Schultz, Asst.
7601 Little Road, Suite 120M
Council Square II
New Port Richey, Fl 34654
(727) 834-3127 or S/C 513-0110
FAX (727) 816-1385
Serving: Pasco & North Pinellas (north of Belleair Rd. in Clearwater)
WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA
Marilyn Rivera-Lockett , Coordinator
9393 N. Florida Avenue
Tampa, Fl 33612
(813) 558-5592 or S/C 514-5592
FAX (813) 558-5598 or S/C 514-5598
Serving: Hillsborough and Manatee
SOUTH CENTRAL FLORIDA
Travis Meeks , Coordinator
William Teague, Asst.
200 N. Kentucky Avenue
Suite 302
Lakeland, Fl 33801
(863) 413-2764 or S/C 515-8460
FAX (863) 413-2766
Serving: Polk, Highland, & Hardee
EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA
Kim Shaw , Coordinator
Sandy Hill, Asst.
400 W. Robinson Street, Suite S-1014A
Orlando, Fl 32801
(407) 245-0640 or S/C 344-0640
FAX (407) 999-5362 or S/C 344-5362
Serving: Orange, Seminole, Brevard, & Osceola
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Carolyn Ellis , Interim Coordinator
Mary Sheehan, Asst.
2295 Victoria Ave. Room 135
Ft. Myers, Fl 33901
(941) 338-1493 or S/C 722-1493
FAX (941) 338-1671 or S/C 722-1671
Serving: Sarasota, Desoto, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry, & Collier
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Briana Hagquist , Coordinator
Christa Watts, Asst.
111 S. Sapodilla Avenue #205
West Palm Beach, Fl 33401
(561) 837-5038 or S/C 252-5038
FAX (561) 650-6885
Serving: Palm Beach County
TREASURE COAST
Linda Slattery , Coordinator
337 N. 4th Street
Rm. 210 A&B
Ft. Pierce, Fl 34950
(772) 595-1385 or S/C 240-1385
FAX (772) 467-3051
Serving: Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River & Okeechobee
BROWARD COUNTY
Toni Ricke , Coordinator
Debra Riley, Asst.
7771 West Oakland Park Blvd, Suite 123
Sunrise, Fl., 33351
(954) 747-7919 or S/C 430-7919
FAX (954) 747-7920 or S/C 430-7920
Serving: Broward
SOUTH DADE & THE Fl KEYS
Debbi Sokolow , Coordinator
C/O Dept. of Children & Families
6600 SW 57th Avenue
South Miami, Fl 33143
(305) 663-2085 or S/C 430-2085
FAX (305) 668-7278 or S/C 430-7278
Serving: Monroe & S. Miami Dade (South of Flagler St., all SE & SW
addresses)
NORTH DADE
Ramon Keppis , Coordinator
Pastora Fernandez, Asst.
20000 NW 47th Avenue, Rm. #38
Opa Locka, Fl 33055
(305) 626-6144
FAX (305) 628-7254
Serving: N. Miami Dade (North of Flagler Street, all NE and NW addresses) |