Pasco Kids First

Child Advocacy and Protection

Pasco Kids First

Children's Advocacy Center

Keeping Kids Safe; Strengthening Families

Pasco Kids First Office Safety Precautions

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Pasco Kids First is taking the following precautions to protect our clients and staff and help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

  • Pasco Kids First team members will wear masks and you and your children must wear a face covering to comply with the Pasco County Executive Order. If you do not have a mask, Pasco Kids First team members will you provide with one upon your arrival.  Exceptions to the order include children under the age of two and anyone with an existing health condition that would be complicated by wearing a mask.
  • We ask all clients to wait in their cars or outside until retrieved by a Pasco Kids First team member.
  • Please call the office at 727-845-8080 or a cell phone number provided to you in order to alert your Pasco Kids First team member that you have arrived.
  • Office seating in the waiting room is discouraged but in the event you must be in the waiting room, please use appropriate physical distancing.
  • A Pasco Kids First team member will take your temperature upon arrival. If your temperature is 100 degrees or above, you will be asked to reschedule your appointment.
  • Pasco Kids First team members will maintain safe distancing.
  • Physical contact is not permitted. We ask that you talk to your child(ren) about physical contact.
  • As much as possible, Pasco Kids First team members will schedule appointments at specific intervals to minimize the number of people coming into the center at any one time.
  • Restroom soap dispensers are maintained, and everyone is required to wash their hands. After using the restroom, we ask that you use the disinfectant wipes provided to sanitize after your use.
  • Hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol is available in the lobby, therapy rooms and medical room as well as at the reception counter.
  • Commonly used items such as pens as well as areas that are commonly touched are thoroughly sanitized after each use.
  • Common areas are thoroughly disinfected at the end of each day.

Daughters of Penelope Baby Shower for PKF

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The Daughters of Penelope EROS Chapter 356 held a baby shower event at their monthly meeting at the AHEPA 489 Apartment House. There was no specific mommy to be or baby present but the group of caring and generous women each brought in baby items such as diapers, toys and some of the most darling outfits for baby boys and girls. The gifts were presented to Becky Bennett with Pasco Kids First for their Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando program, a positive-parenting home visiting program for expecting families or those with newborns. In addition, the ladies donated journals, toiletry items, undergarments and more for the kids served at the Pasco Kids First Children’s Advocacy Center. The donation was valued at more than $1,500. The Daughters of Penelope formed 39 years ago and support a variety of charities throughout the year.

Pasco Kids First Earns National Re-accreditation

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PASCO KIDS FIRST EARNS RE-ACCREDITATION FROM NATIONAL CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE

National Children’s Alliance recognizes Pasco Kids First for its ongoing delivery of high quality and effective services to child abuse victims through accreditation

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL (April 6, 2020) – Pasco Kids First has been awarded re-accreditation by National Children’s Alliance following an extensive application and site review process. As the accrediting agency for Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) across the country, National Children’s Alliance awards various levels of accreditation and membership to centers responding to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient, and put the needs of child victims of abuse first. Accreditation is the highest level of membership with National Children’s Alliance and denotes excellence in service provision.

Accredited CACs must undergo a re-accreditation process every five years to ensure that best practices are continually being applied. With accreditation standards being updated in 2017, re-accreditation this year reflects Pasco Kids First’s commitment to providing evidence-based methods practice.

Pasco Kids First was established in 1989 with the mission to assist in the protection of children from the devastating effects of child abuse and neglect providing services for 30 years to children and families. In 2019, Pasco County had more than 7,500 child abuse reports and Pasco Kids First’s Children’s Advocacy Center served 1,264 children with 593 medical exams, 3,425 therapy sessions, 723 forensic/specialized interviews and 6,529 case management hours. As an Accredited Member of National Children’s Alliance, Pasco Kids First is dedicated to providing comprehensive, coordinated and compassionate services to victims of child abuse.

National Children’s Alliance awards Accredited Membership based on a CAC’s compliance with 10 national standards of accreditation to ensure effective, efficient and consistent delivery of services to child abuse victims. Accredited Members must utilize a functioning and effective Multidisciplinary Team approach to work collaboratively in child abuse investigation, prosecution, and treatment. National Children’s Alliance also considers standards regarding a center’s cultural competency and diversity, forensic interviews, victim support and advocacy, medical evaluation, therapeutic intervention, and child focused setting.

“As an organization/team of individuals dedicated to responding to child abuse, we recognize the importance of maintaining our accreditation status from the National Children’s Alliance. Re-accreditation not only validates our organization’s dedication to proven effective approaches of child abuse intervention and prevention, but also contributes to consistency across the child advocacy center movement as a whole,” said Rob Wolf, President & CEO of Pasco Kids First.

“Pasco Kids First is to be commended for its continued commitment to effectively serve victims of child abuse. As the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers across the country, our goal is to ensure that every victim of child abuse has access to high quality services that result from professional collaboration. By requiring Accredited Centers to undergo re-Accreditation every five years, we ensure that evidence-based practices are being implemented and the highest quality of service is being provided,” remarked Teresa Huizar, Executive Director of National Children’s Alliance.

For more information about Pasco Kids First, visit www.pascokidsfirst.org.

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Pasco Kids First Updates Regarding COVID-19

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We want to thank you for your continued support of Pasco Kids First and the children and families we serve each day. As a community organization proudly serving those in need throughout Pasco and Hernando Counties, we know how difficult and complex times like these can be for all of us and particularly for the numerous families without access to essential resources they rely on.
We also wanted to assure you that we are monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation closely and are working to ensure we meet the needs of our community as well as provide for the health and safety of our clients, team members and volunteers. We realize this health situation has already been disruptive to many communities across the globe.
Some of the specific steps we are taking to ensure our team members and the families we serve are supported through this trying time as they struggle to deal with the ramifications of COVID-19 and the social distancing necessary to prevent the spread of the virus include:
  • Pasco Kids First team members who have a health vulnerability as well as those employees who can complete work requirements at home are requested to do so.
  • A core set of Child Protection Team staff will be in the Children’s Advocacy Center between 9am – 5pm and on-call to ensure services are provided 24/7.
  • For clients coming to CAC – they are triaged by phone to determine whether the child or any household members have cough, fever, shortness of breath or exposure to COVID-19 in order to practice social distancing.
  • Pasco Kids First requests minimal guests escort the client in the waiting room or to wait outside the building.
  • Therapy sessions are being offered in the office or virtually, using platforms with the best patient confidentiality protection, as requested by the client or to best meet the client’s individual needs. Appointments are staggered to limit the number of clients in the waiting room.
  • The waiting room is wiped down regularly throughout the day and exam rooms and therapy offices are cleaned between each client.
  • Healthy Families home visits, assessments and team meetings are being offered virtually when needed.
  • Healthy Families Mommies, Daddies and Me Groups and Graduations have been canceled through June.
During these uncertain times, we are especially grateful for your support as we continue to care for child victims of abuse as well as provide support services for families with little children. As the situation evolves, know we will be investing in our capabilities, equipment, and support while reacting in real-time to make sure we are here supporting our community.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at 727-845-8080 or info@pascokidsfirst.org.
Please stay healthy, safe and stay in touch.
If you feel sick
The Florida Department of Health has opened a COVID-19 Call Center at 1-866-779-6121. Agents will answer questions Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Questions may also be emailed to covid-19@flhealth.gov. Email responses will be sent during call center hours.

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Chasco Fiesta King and Queen Raise $2,700 for Pasco Kids

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King Pithla Paul Friedlander and Queen Chasco Lisa Shippy-Gonzalez held a Royal Super Bowl Party as a fundraiser for Pasco Kids First.  The event was held at the Phi Delta Kappa Banquet Hall in Odessa and included a meal, beverages, huge projection screen of the big game and lots of fun.  Approximately 60 people attended the event which raised $2,765.62 for Pasco Kids First to support their mission providing child abuse prevention, assessment and treatment services to keep kids safe and strengthen families.

Fraternity Presents Check to Pasco Kids First

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The Florida Alpha Lambda Chapter of the Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity presented Pasco Kids First President & CEO with a check donation of $1,500.00 at their recent chapter meeting at their fraternity house in Odessa. In 2019, Pasco County had 7,521 child abuse reports. Pasco Kids First served more than 1,400 children through child abuse assessments or therapy services at their Children’s Advocacy Center.  The Alpha Lambda Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa is the only named Fraternity in the United States not associated with a College or University.  The fraternity is made up of 50 brothers from a variety of different occupations including teachers, law enforcement, business owners, doctors and contractors meet weekly at their banquet hall.  The rentals from their banquet hall help support not only the day to day operations but also local charities in the community.

PKF Secures New Equipment for Pediatric Abuse Exams

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Pasco Kids First recently acquired a state-of-the-art LT-300SD colposcope to be used in pediatric sexual abuse examinations.  The new equipment allows the Child Protection Team medical professionals to use the colposcope on a vertical stand to perform the exam with high magnification, auto focus and hands-free image capture.  In 2019, 47% of the 1,264 children served through the Pasco Kids First Children’s Advocacy Center included a maltreatment of sexual abuse. “This technology is really beneficial to our team and the children we serve as the high quality images provide better capture of evidence and the system is less intrusive for the children,” stated Jon Wisenbaker, Child Protection Team Coordinator. Pasco Kids First has been serving children and their families for 30 years with the mission to keep kids safe and strengthen families through child abuse prevention, assessment and treatment services.  To learn more about Pasco Kids First, visit our website at www.pascokidsfirst.org.

Photo attached: Jon Wisenbaker, Pasco Kids First Child Protection Team Coordinator with the new Colposcope

 

Publix Donates to Pasco Kids First

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Publix Super Market at the Shoppes of Golden Acres donated more than 19 banana boxes of coffees, candy, toys and other items valued at $1,214 to Pasco Kids First’s Children’s Advocacy Center. Several associates of area Publix stores participated in a Day of Caring at Pasco Kids First last year and thought of the agency when determining what to do with the excess items. Publix and Publix Charities give to local food banks and other nonprofits each year, and some donations are made with the generous help of our customers and associates. Their primary areas of community concern are youth, education and health and they have a long standing tradition of being a company that the community can count on since it’s beginning in 1930.

Primrose VPK Classes Shop for Pasco Kids First

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Land O’Lakes – Three VPK classes of Primrose School at Collier Parkway took field trips to Publix at Collier Parkway to buy food items for other kids in need. The students earned the funds by doing “Chores for Change” so they could go shopping at Publix to stock the shelves at Pasco Kids First to distribute to kids and families in need! Talk about being the “Change” you want to see!! Each class took turns boarding the Primrose bus and were given $100 and a shopping list.  They went lane by lane at the Publix of Collier Parkway choosing items to put in their cart with a sign that stated “We worked for weeks doing chores for change so we could go shopping for Pasco Kids First.”  Their total donation from the school’s Caring and Giving Food Drive was more than $500 in food items.

Key Women Educators Donate to Pasco Kids First

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The Delta Gamma Chapter of the International Society for Key Women Educators. The sorority chose to forgo a gift exchange at their annual holiday group meeting at Argentos in Port Richey. Instead, each Delta Gamma members chose to make Christmas a little brighter by donating to teens, families with babies served by the Healthy Families program at Pasco Kids First to make their Christmas brighter. The generous ladies contributed books for the parents to read to their children, handmade quilts, clothing, journals and other supplies for kids and teens. “These every day heroes who give so much to our children each day in their classrooms know the importance of children having the right start,” stated Becky Bennett, Director of Development at Pasco Kids First. “We are so grateful for all they do all year long and then they choose to spend their off time also giving back to families.”

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