6 Caring Groups Helping Florida's Most Vulnerable

Florida is one of the most populous states in the nation, and like many, its communities face numerous challenges regarding financial, educational, and social issues. Fortunately, organizations are ready and willing to help, whether it's a child who needs an advocate or an animal longing for a forever home. In no particular order, here are a few groups serving vulnerable populations in the Sunshine State.

Starting the list off at #1 is the YMCA of South Palm Beach County. Begun as a single branch in 1972, it now manages programs and services for several facilities within its designated area. The organization allows community members to participate in programs regardless of their ability to pay membership fees, and provides scholarship assistance through annual contributions.

The organization believes it is vital to provide its community access to resources that support youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. There are programs for all ages, including STEAM for kids, adult sports, and even a preschool. Each program puts key principles into practice that build healthy spirits, minds, and bodies for all.

Coming in at #2 is the Second Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program. It is part of a statewide coalition of community advocates and professional staff providing a voice on behalf of Florida's abused and neglected children. The group serves the northwest counties of Florida, including Franklin, Jefferson, and Liberty.

The Program recruits attorneys and non-lawyers to serve as guardian ad litem advocates, who protect the rights of, and advocate for, children involved in dependency court proceedings. It also meets the child's immediate financial, health, educational, and social needs. The organization is a nonprofit, and can only fulfill its mission through volunteers and the community's support and resources.

In at #3 is the Jacksonville Humane Society, a local independent non-profit animal adoption facility that also provides education and low-cost, high-quality medical care. It was established in 1885 as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In 2005, the organization officially became a no-kill shelter, meaning it does not euthanize healthy or treatable creatures in its care. After forming a coalition, the group successfully made Jacksonville one of the nation's largest no-kill cities.

JHS provides various services, including behavior and obedience training, spaying and neutering, and humane education. The organization accepts transfers from the city shelter, surrenders from owners who can no longer care for their animals, and strays. It cares for more than 5,000 animals annually and depends mainly on individual donations and grants.

Next up, at #4 is The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, a tax-exempt public charity. It was created by individuals, families, businesses, and organizations dedicated to using philanthropy to build a better community. The Foundation helps others understand their financial options and maximize their financial giving; as a result, thousands of local organizations have benefited from large grants since its inception.

The Foundation uses donor funds to further initiatives designed to improve life in the area. One initiative in particular that the group focuses on is public education reform. Over the course of ten years, it has cultivated the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, an independent nonprofit with a mandate to use research to mobilize the community and advocate for quality learning. The group's efforts culminated in Learning to Finish, a national drop-out prevention collaborative that has led to increased graduation rates in the area.

At #5 is Legal Services of North Florida, one of seven organizations in the state funded primarily by the Legal Services Corporation. The group is able to provide high-quality aid to the poor, largely thanks to the support of local private and government lawyers. It serves only low-income individuals and families across sixteen counties in the area, and never charges a fee to a client.

LSNF works hard to meet the legal needs of children, the elderly, victims of abuse, and those with disabilities. Its priority areas of representation include family law, housing, public benefits, employment, education, and health care issues. The organization aims to provide an opportunity for justice for eligible residents through representation comparable to that of a private lawyer, and offers a full range of civil services to those in need.

Rounding out the list at #6 is IMPOWER, a mental health, substance misuse, and child assistance organization. The group dedicates itself to empowering the lives of children, adolescents, and adults by offering personal attention, counseling, and inspiration to help them reach their full potentials. Founded in 1994, it serves more than 9,000 individuals and families throughout Central Florida annually.

IMPOWER offers a wide variety of care primarily focused on addressing mental and behavioral health. Offerings include outpatient mental health services, substance misuse treatment, foster care and adoption, and a Drug Court program. For teens, there's an adolescent substance abuse residential treatment center called The Grove that provides an intensive support plan. The organization also has a transitional housing program known as The Village that offers safe, affordable housing combined with support for homeless and former foster youth between 18 and 24.