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How Whole Child Works

Whole Child communities are designated as such by The Lawton Chiles Foundation based on a community-wide commitment to shared philosophies to serve young children and their families.The Lawton Chiles Foundation currently partners with 12 counties across Florida. Current Whole Child communities include Brevard, Manatee, Martin, Leon, Hardee, Highlands, Polk, Indian River, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor and Gadsden. A Whole Child Community uses web-based technology; a commitment from all segments of the community; and community leaders united as Action Teams to build and maintain a community where everyone works together to make sure children thrive.

The primary focus of Whole Child Florida is 0-5, but many WC communities are electing to broaden the spectrum and address children and youth of all ages and their families.

Whole Child uses web-based technology called the "Whole Child Connection" to:

  • Assist families in identifying the needs of their young children.
  • Connect families with appropriate service providers,
  • Encourage and enable service providers to build collaborative networks, and
  • Enable communities to identify gaps in service and assess their progress in ensuring that all children thrive.
Whole Child communities believe that all segments of the community need to work together to make sure children thrive. Each segment have unique opportunities for contribution.
  • Business
  • Civic Groups
  • Education
  • Providers
  • Government
  • Faith-based organizations
  • Families
Community leaders united as "Action Teams" to focus on programs, activities, and support services families need to nurture the "Six Dimensions of a Whole Child."
  • Physical and Mental Health
  • Quality Early Education and Development
  • Social-Emotional Development
  • Spiritual Foundation and Strength
  • Safe and Nurturing Environment
  • Economic Stability
The Role of the Lawton Chiles Foundation

The Lawton Chiles Foundation provides seed money for Whole Child Florida, which offers designated Whole Child Communities the leadership and guidance to reach their goals for young children. This includes organizational meetings with an introduction to core beliefs and principles, a comprehensive downloadable on-line toolkit with key documents, and step-by step guides to becoming a Whole Child community. Whole Child Florida will provide linkages with technology partners, and to statewide organizations such as the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet, Children’s Services Councils, the Florida Association of Early Learning Coalitions and the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions. Finally, each Whole Child Community, once designated, will become part of a full service web community with individual websites, database and communication functionalities to foster discussion between and among the greater statewide community.

Whole Child Florida will seek partners to help host a series of statewide meetings and summits to share best practices between and among Whole Child Communities and with other statewide efforts such as Worst to First.