Pasco Kids First

Pasco Kids First has been providing services for 29 years in Pasco County and 11 years in Hernando County. All programs are focused on addressing the issue of child abuse and neglect. 

In 2017, Pasco County had more than 6,575 child abuse reports and Hernando County had 2,055 child abuse reports. The Pasco Kids First Children's Advocacy Center provided services to 1,551 children through child abuse medical assessments, forensic interviews and therapy services. The Healthy Families parenting program served 263 families with 450 children. The Trauma Treatment Team provided over 3,000 hours of therapy to 325 children and families.

Pasco Kids First's mission is to keep kids safe, strengthen families through empowerment and enhance our community by preventing child abuse and healing children from trauma. 

Impact:  Stressful or traumatic childhood experiences such as abuse, neglect, witnessing domestic violence or growing up with alcohol or other substance abuse, mental illness, parental discord or crime in the community are a common pathway to social, emotional and cognitive impairments that lead to increased risk of unhealthy behaviors, risk of violence or re-victimization, disease, disability and premature mortality. 

Cost: The average annual cost to care for an abused child is $105,131. This includes child welfare, hospitalization, special education & juvenile justices services. It costs Florida 38 more times to care for an abused child than to prevent a child from being abused.   Pasco Kids First Healthy Families prevention services cost $2,100 per child. (no cost to the family)

Proven Outcomes: 98% of children were free from abuse and neglect during services and within one year after Healthy Families program completion;

95% of children were free from re-victimization one year after treatment;

86% of participants improve their self-sufficiency by getting their GED or a college degree, enrolling in job skill development training, getting a job, finding more stable housing, learning English as a second language, attending literacy classes or obtaining a driver's license.

Our goal is to offer services that help keep kids safe, assist them in overcoming the traumatic effects of abuse and neglect and provide parents with concrete support, education and coaching to help them raise their children successfully.