Social Services

Performance Dashboard

OVERVIEW

The Social Services division at the City of North Port assists families and individuals in need of short-term financial assistance and works to link clients to appropriate area resources. Our mission is to ensure the availability, awareness, and accessibility of programs and resources in the community, and to assist families and individuals while improving their overall quality of life.


This dashboard features both performance goals and output measures. Departments set performance goals that support their Core Service Areas. These goals are tracked and measured to ensure high quality service delivery to our residents. Output measures report on the level of service delivery (number of work orders completed, number of acres mowed).

social

Goal: Expand programs to increase service level.

Measure: Serve a minimum of 80 residents annually in the Skills for Life program.

The Skills for Life workshops were created to help North Port residents develop skills to reach self-sufficiency, stability, and better overall quality of life. Workshops include, but are not limited to, money management, scam prevention, senior safety, interview techniques, and resume building, to name a few. Our workshops are modified for individuals ages 16 and up.


This program began in July 2021 and served 6 residents in its first year. In the second year, Fiscal Year 21/22, Skills for Life served 45 residents.

FY 22/23 Target is to serve 80 residents.

Goal: Expand programs to increase service level.

Measure: Increase number of residents served through Special Events and Programs.


The City of North Port Social Services division coordinates multiple events throughout the year to support residents.

These events include:

  • Home for the Holidays
    • Adopt-N-Shop - community members "adopt" children and families to provide toys and gifts for the holidays.
    • Home-Based Holidays - provides home-bound North Port residents with a small gift or hygiene bag items during the holiday season.
    • Senior Giving Tree - hosted by the City of North Port Social Services Division, staff and volunteers serve 100 North Port Seniors a sit-down lunch filled with entertainment and fellowship.
  • Community Baby Shower and Preschool Expo - event for pregnant women and families with children up to 4 years of age.
  • Back to School Resource Fair - event to provide resources to parents for students as they return to school as well as supplemental school items in preparation for the new school year.
  • Children's Community Clothing Closet - operated in partnership with the Kiwanis Club of North Port, Inc., provides clothing, diapers, and hygiene items for infants and children.

Goal: Provide mission support to local non-profits.

Measure: Creation and implementation of North Port & Non-Profits United (NP2).

The North Port & Non-Profits United (NP2) Program was created to assist non-profits in achieving their mission objectives by integrating local municipal government with area non-profits serving North Port citizens. This collaborative effort will offer any non-profit serving the North Port community an opportunity to apply for a mission support item that will enhance the agency’s programming needs.


**This program is not intended to support the administrative costs of the applicant. A mission support item is a tangible object that enhances a non-profit’s level of service to the North Port community.

Goal: Increase awareness of City services offered at Family Service Center and Community Education Center.

Measure: Participate in 24 outreach activities to promote Center services.

Our outreach activities include providing program awareness by participating in area events and collaborative meetings. In addition, staff promotes division services to our local community centers, assisted living facilities, schools, libraries, and housing complexes.


Goal: Provide comprehensive and diverse social services through tenants within the Family Service and Community Education Centers.

Measure: Services provided by population served through tenants (veterans, seniors, and families/individuals experiencing a housing crisis, etc.).

Several non-profits are housed in the Family Service and Community Education Centers.

These tenants serve our diverse community. To highlight the extraordinary work performed, this graph shows the types of populations served: veterans, seniors, food insecure, families/individuals experiencing a housing crisis, etc.

Output Measures

Note: October 2022 activities were severely impacted by Hurricane Ian recovery efforts.

Refer clients to proper resources and act as an information hub for residents.

The Social Services Division handles hundreds of phone calls every month to assist residents and answer questions. Types of assistance provided include:

  • Department of Children and Families (DCF) information
  • Scheduling Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) appointments
  • Scheduling appointments for rent, mortgage and utility assistance
  • General information for WIC, SSA, and unemployment
  • Hurricane Ian resources and vouchers


Support housing stability through direct assistance and homeless prevention activities.

The City of North Port Social Services receives grants and other funding sources to help residents with needs such as rental or utility assistance.


Case Workers assist residents in completing applications and providing supplemental documentation required for the various programs.


In Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021, Social Services received additional funding through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s Season of Sharing Grant (SOS), United Way of South Sarasota County’s COVID-19 Recovery Fund, and FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) to help residents during the Covid pandemic.


Legend:

  • Catholic Charities = Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice, Inc. Financial Assistance Program
  • EFS = Emergency Food and Shelter Grants
  • Leveraged Grant = Gulf Coast Community Foundation grant used for our Securing Seniors program
  • Season of Sharing = community-wide campaign through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County
  • SVDP = Society of St. Vincent de Paul
  • United Way = United Way of South Sarasota County Suncoast serving Venice, Englewood, North Port, Laurel, Nokomis, and Osprey