Adults, youth and children are greeted by bilingual staff members who work individually with each family to get to know them, and to discover ways that the Center can help meet their individual needs. The programs and services provided at the Center are the result of a strong community partnership between local agencies to provide the best possible resources available to families in the Town 'N Country area.
The beautifully decorated children’s play area is a unique feature of the Town 'N Country Center. This is a special place where children are engaged in age-appropriate activities so that parents are “freed up” to participate in a variety of different classes, programs and activities. The Family Support & Resource Centers are one of the very few places where parents can attend GED or ESOL classes while their children are being cared for at no charge. This is a great benefit to busy, working parents that are seeking to complete their education and enhance their personal job skills.
A spacious multi-purpose room enables individuals to work on computers, attend classes, and work with community groups to learn new skills. A very successful program at the Town 'N Country Center has been the “Coffee & Classifieds” group that provides a homelike setting for individuals searching for jobs, to receive help in preparing resumes, phone calls for interviews, encouraging one another and sharing insights. Participants utilize the computers, fax machines and copier as needed to support their search efforts.
The library offers a place where adults and children can find books to read and borrow. Often parents are found sitting cross-legged on the floor with little ones in their lap, enjoying a fun storybook together.
The spacious kitchen has been the center of many fun-filled pot-luck dinners, parties and events planned by the Family Advisory Council and enjoyed by families from a variety of different cultures and backgrounds. The social opportunities at the Center are many – families that are new to the Tampa Bay area enjoy having a great place to get to know other families and form lasting friendships. Outreach efforts have gained the support of area schools, churches, libraries, and recreational centers.
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