About Children's Services Councils

A Children’s Services Council (CSC) is a countywide special taxing district created by ordinance to fund programs and services that improve the lives of children and their families. Examples of programs and services funded by CSCs include school readiness, after school care, prenatal care, youth development, and foster care review.

To date, 11 Florida counties have created CSCs that invest taxpayer dollars in the well-being of their community’s children and families. In 2005-2006, CSCs collectively invested nearly $400 million in hundreds of local programs and services for children and their families. While the services offered and age groups served vary depending on the needs of the community, the primary focus of all CSCs is to invest in prevention and early intervention programs that produce measurable results.

In 8 of the 11 CSC counties, voters have approved "independent" taxing authority for their CSC to ensure that a dedicated funding source is available for children’s programs and services. The 3 remaining CSCs operate as "dependent" districts, and rely on funding from different sources, including county government, to pay for children’s programs and services.

The CSC special district is unlike any other in the nation. Florida is the only state where a community has the power, by law, to create a special taxing district for the sole purpose of investing in the well-being of children and their families. While many other organizations address the needs of young children, no other public entity provides such an umbrella for leadership, coordination and oversight concerning the status of children.

To learn more about Florida CSCs, visit the Florida CSC website here.