Timeline
Explore the Key Moments that Shaped The Children's Trust's Impact in Miami-Dade County
Our Legacy of Care and Commitment
Explore the key moments and milestones that have defined our commitment to supporting children and families in Miami-Dade County
1988
In the late 1980s, recognizing that the needs of children in Miami-Dade County far exceeded the resources and support systems available, a group of child advocates attempt to address the issue through the creation of a special taxing district. Under a Florida statute that allowed for such an initiative, the group was successful in bringing a referendum to ballot in 1988, but voters failed to pass it.
Sept. 10, 2002
After restarting the effort for a special taxing district with some differences – most notably an emphasis on providing resources and programming for ALL children and families and building in a 5-year sunset provision – Miami-Dade voters approve creation of The Children’s Trust by a 2 to1 vote, officially establishing The Children’s Trust.
2002
59.2% of Floridians vote in favor of state-paid voluntary pre-K education beginning 2005, a significant win for early childhood education.
2004
The Trust funds 64 organizations for children and families inclusive of children with disabilities. The first funded RFP was titled Times of Their Lives, which funded 39 programs to deliver summer programming.
Summer camps and after-school program funding are launched to help children succeed academically and minimize risky behaviors. Also, funding begins to fund parenting, early childhood and development, health, and community awareness/advocacy programs.
The Trust first joins the Florida Children's Council, later renamed the Florida Association of Children's Councils and Trusts, or FACCT.
2005
Funding begins to support 211 Helpline for families to access health and human services information and referrals.
As a way to honor individuals and programs devoted to children and families, The Trust hosts its first Champions for Children Award Ceremony, an annual tradition that continues today.
2006
The Family & Neighborhood Support Partnerships initiative is created to provide integrated services to children and families with the highest needs, in communities impacted by poverty, violence and trauma. Originally known as service partnerships, the program eventually transitioned to its new name.
2007
The inaugural Family Expo takes. The event would draw more than 10,000 children and families annually.
Quality Counts is created to improve child care quality in partnership with the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe.
The Trust provides dedicated funding to 91 small community organizations to build their organizational and program management capacity to deliver quality programming.
The HealthConnect initiative is created to improve access to quality health care in public schools and connections to resources. The Youth Violence Prevention initiative is also initially established.
2008
More than 85% of voters overwhelmingly reauthorize The Children's Trust, establishing it in perpetuity.
Transition to Adulthood program funding is established to support system-involved youth from 13-22 years of age.
300+ youth and children perform at the inaugural Growing Up with the Arts showcase at the Adrienne Arsht Center.
2009
The Miami Heart Gallery is created as a partnership between The Trust and child welfare agencies to encourage adoption and foster care.
The first Spooky Symphony is held. The free family-friendly Halloween concert is sponsored by The Trust and features two Trust-funded providers, The Greater Miami Youth Symphony and the Alhambra Orchestra.
2010
The Trust funds the Young Talent Big Dreams competition for the first time. It would go on to become the county’s largest youth talent competition.
The Trust releases funding for Community Parentship for Local Haitian Relief Efforts, following the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
2011
Read to Learn is established to increase the number of third graders who read at or above grade level. A year later, the Read to Learn Book Club launches, offering free monthly books for 3-year-olds.
2012
The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is launched as a leadership development program with a focus on youth service and advocacy. At 10 years, 315,000 children, youth, parents and caregivers benefited from Trust-funded programs; there were 1.2 million visits to health clinics in schools, and more than 67,000 children were part of The Trust’s child care quality improvement initiative.
2015
The Trust joins a collaborative to fund a five-week, paid summer internship for thousands of high school students at organizations throughout the county that would become known as the Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP).
2016
The Trust creates the Innovation Fund to test new ideas that could lead to new solutions for community problems.
2017
The Trust establishes the Family Strengthening initiative to offer individualized parenting and clinical intervention services and adds 40 mental health professionals to current school health nursing and social work staff.
2018
The Trust forms the Thrive by 5 initiative to expand investment in children's early physical, cognitive, social and emotional readiness for starting school.
The Children’s Trust helps create and serves as host of the Miami-Dade Grade Level Reading (MDGLR) campaign, a coalition of entities that focus on elevating literacy in the county.
2019
The Children's Trust Book Club is expanded to include children from birth until 5 years old. The Trust also begins funding community-based oral health prevention services.
The Children’s Trust Parent Club is launched to offer free workshops that increase awareness and engagement in effective parenting strategies to support child development.
2020
The Trust holds a Social Equity Day to build awareness about the foundations of social equity and the impact it has on education and all of its different daily practices.
The Trust invests $3.3M in emergency funds for families during the COVID-19 pandemic, while launching the StayHome.Miami website and Ready, Set, Go! initiative to assist with learning in a remote environment.
2022
The Trust partners with the United States Department of Defense (DoD) to offer high-quality child care through its Thrive by 5 initiative to service member families. This initiative is part of the DoDs Military Child Care In Your Neighborhood-PLUS (MCCYN+) program.
The Trust plays a fundamental role in Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s Blue Ribbon Children’s Commission, including co-organizing and helping to lead the Commission’s inaugural Mayor’s Children’s Summit in October. Several Trust staff members and board members also serve on several subcommittees of the Commission.
Sept. 10, 2022
The Trust's celebrates its 20 Year Anniversary. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and the Board of County Commissioners proclaim September 10 as "The Children's Trust Day."