Marion County’s Community Support Directory

COMMUNITY HOME PROJECT

The Marion County Hospital District has partnered with Marion County Public Schools to offer free services at Howard Academy located at 306 NW 7 Ave. Building 3, Ocala, FL 34475. The Community Home Project assists families with employment, educational tutoring and continuing education, healthcare navigation and dental clinics, fitness and nutrition classes (diabetes education, grocery orders) and much more.

WELL FLORIDA COUNSIL

WellFlorida Council is a private, nonprofit organization that was created in 1969. We are the state designated local health council for 16 counties in North Central Florida and are consultants for health causes. In addition to our consultancy services, WellFlorida manages local, state and federally funded programs and nonprofits throughout the region that support our mission and the causes we believe in—maternal, infant and child health, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, and improving access to healthcare, especially in rural communities.

EARLY LEARNING COALITION

The Early Learning Coalition of Marion County supports families through access to quality early learning programs that nurture children’s learning potential while preparing them for educational success. Our FREE services include Child Care Resource and Referral, School Readiness child care financial assistance for eligible families, Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK), children’s developmental and behavioral screenings, parenting workshops, emergency family resources, and more.

SNAP FOOD ASSISTANCE

SNAP provides nutritional support for low-income seniors, people with disabilities living on fixed incomes, and other individuals and families with low incomes. SNAP is a federal program administered by the Florida Department of Children and Families Office of Economic Self-Sufficiency (ESS). ESS is responsible for determining eligibility for SNAP using federal guidelines.

WIC NUTRITION PROGRAM

WIC is a federally funded nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children. WIC provides the following at no cost: healthy foods, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding support, and referrals for health care and community services.

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is a private, nonprofit organization that collects, stores and distributes donated food to more than 870 feeding partners in seven Central Florida counties: Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia. Last year, with the help of numerous donors, volunteers and a caring, committed community, the food bank distributed enough food for 76 million meals to partner programs such as food pantries, soup kitchens, women’s shelters, senior centers, day care centers and Kids Cafes.

In addition to helping feed the line of our neighbors who need help, Second Harvest also transforms dozens of lives directly every year. The Second Harvest Culinary Training Program is a 16-week continuing education opportunity offering adults facing barriers to employment with the culinary and life skills training needed to pursue a full-time sustainable career in the food industry. Yet another important activity helps connect people who are eligible to receive SNAP food assistance benefits with the resources they need to access the program and get help.

BROTHER’S KEEPER PANTRY

The Brother’s Keeper emergency pantry strives to assist individuals and families in need in our community by providing food assistance and person care items. The level of assistance and the time constraints for assistance are set on a case by case basis. Applicants for assistance should be able to provide proper identification but no one will be denied the ability to apply for assistance. All applicants need visit us to fill out an intake form.

We offer:

• Food to meet basic nutritional needs
• Personal care items

INTERFAITH EMERGENCY SERVICES

Interfaith Emergency Services is a community of faith called by God to offer emergency assistance without judgment to all persons in Marion County.

SALVATION ARMY – CENTER OF HOPE

The Pathway of Hope initiative is an approach launched by The Salvation Army in 2011 to provide targeted services to families with a desire to take action to break the generational cycle of crisis and enable a path out of poverty. It is rooted in a case management approach, focusing on client needs through a strength-based lens.

Targeting families with children, came from the desire to have an intergenerational impact on poverty. By positively influencing the lives of parents, the Salvation Army can create better living conditions for children. Influencing children in their development years is crucial, as studies show that children who spend more than half of their life in poverty are 32 times more likely to be in poverty as an adult.

HEALTH INSURANCE NAVIGATOR

Covering Central Florida navigators work for the Primary Care Access Network (PCAN), a 501c3 non-profit organization located in Orlando Florida (EIN 46-1817605). Navigators are certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), licensed by the State of Florida, and must pass a Federal Background Check. All services provided by navigators are offered Free of Charge.

OCALA HOUSING AUTHORITY

The Ocala Housing Authority is committed to providing safe, decent, sanitary, and affordable housing to the residents of Marion County; to provide economic opportunities and housing free from discrimination; and to build dynamic communities that will foster personal growth and self-sufficiency.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY- MARION COUNTY

Habitat for Humanity of Marion County, a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, is a part of a global nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks to put God’s love into action by building homes, communities, and hope.

HANDS OF MERCY EVERYWHERE

A Christian Home for Teenage Girls, Teen Mothers and Their Babies.

HEALTHY FAMILIES (Children’s Home Society)

The questions are never-ending! How can I keep my baby safe? How will I know if she’s making progress and meeting milestones? How can I console him when he cries? You’re not in this journey alone – Healthy Families is here to help navigate the rollercoaster of parenting. Through this free, voluntary program, you’ll receive support and guidance as you become the best parent you can be!

EARLY STEPS

Early Steps is Florida’s early intervention system that offers services to eligible infants and toddlers, age birth to 36 months, who have or are at-risk for developmental disabilities or delays. Early intervention supports families and caregivers to increase their child’s participation in daily activities and routines that are important to the family.

HELP ME GROW (Early Learning Coalition)

The goal of Help Me Grow Florida is to promote healthy development for every child in our state. Help Me Grow (HMG) is a unique, comprehensive, and integrated statewide system designed to address the need for early identification of developmental and/or behavioral concerns, and then to link children and their families to community-based developmental and behavioral services and supports.

THE BIRTH PLACE (Advent Health)

UF WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTER

UF physicians provide comprehensive, compassionate, state-of-the-art care to women with a broad range of gynecologic problems. UF obstetricians provide sensitive, individualized prenatal care in partnership with the woman and her family to insure the most successful and personal outcome.

HEART OF FLORIDA MATERNITY CARE CENTER

At Heart of Florida Health Center, we provide Prenatal Care, keeping the comfort of our maternity patients in mind. By partnering with the Midwives of Ocala who deliver locally at Advent Health Ocala, our patients have the benefit and convenience of receiving individualized care during their pregnancy and possible pregnancy complications. HFHC meets the needs of our moms whether insured, under insured, or uninsured; as well as offering a sliding fee discount program for those who qualify. We also offer group visits for mothers-to-be in visits called, “Centering Pregnancy.” HFHC is proud to be able to offer another convenient service for our patients…including our future ones!

MARION COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

The Florida Department of Health in Marion County offers a wide variety of clinical and nutritional services for residents and visitors alike. You can find dental services, WIC services, immunizations and more at our convenient locations throughout the county. Be sure to check the location information to verify which services are available at that particular facility. 

FAMILY HOPE RESOURCE CENTER

Family Hope Resource and Pregnancy Center, Inc. (FHRPC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry. All funding is derived from the church, surrounding churches and the community. It is God’s will that we serve to show the love He has for us as His created people. Unplanned pregnancies, planned pregnancies, and individual trials created the need for this love ministry. All our services and items are offered free of charge. It is our desire, at Family Hope Resource and Pregnancy Center, to demonstrate God’s love to our clients and to do so without judgement of them or their situation. We do not discriminate against anyone based on race, religion, or gender. 

WOMEN’S PREGNANCY CENTER

ALPHA CENTER FOR WOMEN

HEALTHY START

Healthy Start is a free home visiting program that provides education and care coordination to pregnant women and families of children under the age of three. The goal of the program is to lower risk factors associated with preterm birth, low birth weight, infant mortality and poor developmental outcomes.

Healthy Start offers:

Home Visiting
Prenatal and Parenting Education
Interconception Education including Reproductive Life Planning
Stress Management Education
Care Coordination to help families learn about resources available in the community and assistance in accessing those services.

MARION MIECHV

Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) is a voluntary program that uses the evidence-based model Parents as Teachers (PAT) to serve families with newborns and young children. The goals of MIECHV/Parents as Teachers are to provide parents with child development knowledge and parenting support, provide early detection of developmental delays and health issues, prevent child abuse and neglect, and increase children’s school readiness.  

MIECHV is a Nationwide home visiting program offered in qualifying high risk communities. In Alachua and Marion counties, the MIECHV program uses the Parents as Teachers evidence-based curriculum and is available to families with babies up to age 3 who qualify based on need and stressors. If you would like additional information, please contact a MIECHV location.

HEALTHY FAMILIES PROGRAM (Children’s Home Society)

The questions are never-ending! How can I keep my baby safe? How will I know if she’s making progress and meeting milestones? How can I console him when he cries? You’re not in this journey alone – Healthy Families is here to help navigate the rollercoaster of parenting. Through this free, voluntary program, you’ll receive support and guidance as you become the best parent you can be!

THE PEARL PROJECT

We offer support for caregivers of children who have experienced trauma by providing trauma-Informed trainings, support groups, camps and retreats. We also run a closet for foster/adoptive parents and train cuddlers for substance-exposed newborns at Advent Health’s NICU.

AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS

Al-Anon and Alateen carry the message of hope to those who feel helpless, lost and lonely due to the effects of someone’s alcoholism. The groups meet to give experience, strength and hope to newcomers by sharing their own experience and understanding of themselves and the alcoholic. Al-Anon believes that benefits are gained by the willingness to share them with others.

FLORIDA REGION NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS

Narcotics Anonymous is a non-profit fellowship of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. We are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. This is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs. There is only one requirement for membership, the desire to stop using

OCALA FIRE RESCUE

OFR provides fire and injury prevention, as well as emergency mitigation services. Among the range of community programs offered, are the Narcan Leave Behind Program and the Ocala Recovery Project.

OCALA POLICE DEPARTMENT

Provides community Police response for public safety and well being. This includes a Victim Advocate Program to assist with comprehensive needs for victims of crime and citizens with social service needs.