Family Resources
Overview
One of our main aims at the Family Study Center is to provide materials and resources of direct use to families, and to connect families with other useful sites for parents.
Below you will find helpful information, including advice for parents talking to small children about war, gun violence and tragic news stories, and a resource guide listing services to Pinellas families with infants and toddlers showing early adjustment difficulties and developmental delays. You’ll also find family-friendly publications designed to help families work together for their children.
For a terrific resource specific to the needs of expectant parents and parents of young children birth to age 3, visit the website of ZERO TO THREE.
RESOURCES
Helping Children Cope in the Aftermath of Violence
In October 2023, Hamas—the Iranian-backed terror group controlling Gaza—launched a vicious surprise attack on Israel and its families, murdering or kidnapping children, families, and elders to use them as human shields. Israel’s response, a bombing campaign and subsequent ground invasion, has taken the lives of countless children and families in Gaza. Each passing day brings agonizing sorrow for the babies and children who continue to be subjected to unthinkable violence in Israel and Gaza. Our colleagues at ZERO TO THREE have drawn together several free resources that offer guidance to parents, caregivers, and the professionals who support them to help infants and young children grieve and process traumatic experiences. That information can be found here: Terrorism and War Sharpen Focus on Traumatic Effects of Violence on Babies and Toddlers; Resources Available to Help Children, Families.
These events have profoundly impacted families locally, and the situation abroad continues to be a painful and personally difficult situation for Israeli Americans and Palestinian Americans inour community. With our colleagues at ZERO TO THREE we see this as a moment to recommit ourselves to ensuring that every child grows up healthy, safe, and loved. Families throughout Pinellas with children birth to age 5 can contact our Infant Family Center for support. Resources are also available from the NAMI Pinellas County Information & Resource Helpline (727-791-3434, Monday through Friday, 9AM.–6PM; email office@nami-pinellas.org; from 211 Tampa Bay Cares and from Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, Nicole.Guincho@gcjfcs.org
Violence and gun-related tragedies also remain an all-too-common and familiar experience for so many families here in the United States, including here in our own community. These tragedies, many of which have involved anti-Black aggression and violence, evoke sadness and outrage. In 2022, we grieved those murdered in Buffalo, New York following an act of racially motivated violent extremism that took the lives of numerous parents and grandparents, and just days later, children and teachers killed at a mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. We reflected on the words of our colleague, Society for Research in Child Development President Dr. Nancy Hill, as she shared her personal reflections of being a parent having to talk, again, with her son about the shootings. Dr. Hill also compiled a very helpful list of resources both for parents to help them cope themselves and to talk with their young children about tragedies and news events.
Issues are complex and multi-faceted; in St. Petersburg, the city’s Not My Child campaign offers additional support and resources to local families. Parents of young children are also able to bring and discuss issues of concern at the Family Study Center’s Parent Café series offered in collaboration with New Visions for the Well.
At the Family Study Center and our Infant-Family Center, we stand ready to support local families in our community in need following tragic loss. We offer this additional resource for families and we are able to work directly with families with children birth through age 5 in times of acute crisis. We encourage families to be in touch with our Infant-Family Center for supports, services and referrals to help cope with distress impacting their young children. For an appointment or to learn more about ways in which we can help, please contact Marylin Landrau at (727) 873-4876.
Pinellas County Services for Families of Infants and Toddlers
A variety of excellent free or low cost infant mental health services in Pinellas County for infants and toddlers under the age of three who are experiencing
developmental delays or disabilities, difficulties with emotional or behavioral self-regulation,
and other signs of early adjustment difficulties. Contact information can be found
within the accompanying flyer. Most agencies provide support not just for children
but for their parents as well.
Charting the Bumpy Road of Coparenthood Book
Dr. James McHale’s book on coparenting, “Charting the Bumpy Road of Coparenthood”.
The book is written for both parents and professionals, and summarizes findings from
a large, federally-funded project that studied families as they navigated the transition
to new parenthood. “Charting the Bumpy Road of Coparenthood” outlines how parents’
thoughts, expectations, and relationships prior to the baby’s birth affect how they
coordinate together with one another as they begin to coparent their infants and young
children. Parents of young children will see much of themselves in the interview excerpts
and advice offered by parents, for parents.
Healthy Start Resource Manual
For Great Community Resources for Families with Young Children in Pinellas
Pinellas Healthy Start Resource Manual in English
Pinellas Healthy Start Manual de Recursos en Español
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
Healthy Start of Pinellas County: The Pinellas County Health Department brings support and care to pregnant women, infants, and their families. The Healthy Start programs support our community and provide education and special programs to make sure each child receives a Healthy start in our community.
The Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County: A local organization promoting school readiness services and enhancing the emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development of all children.
The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida: A private, nonprofit corporation whose mission is to identify, fund, support and evaluate innovative prevention and early intervention programs that improve the health, education and life outcomes of Florida’s at-risk children and families.
Juvenile Welfare Board: The Juvenile Welfare Board supports the healthy development of all children and their families in Pinellas County through advocacy, research, planning, training, communications, coordination of resources and funding.
The Children’s Home: The Children’s Home is a child- and family-centered organization that helps to care for struggling families and children who have suffered abuse, neglect or abandonment and are seeking the comfort of a loving family.
CERTIFIED AND EVIDENCE BASED TRAUMA-INFORMED INTERVENTIONISTS
Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP)
Family Enrichment Services/Adoption Related Services
3941 68th Ave N, Pinellas Park, FL 33781
Other offices addresses with private practice:
11329 Countryway Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33626
10033 9th St. N.
St. Peterburg, FL 33716
Phone (813) 727-0264
FAX (813)792-5272
Email
JHACH Social Worker
John’s Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
880 Sixth Street South
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701
727-767-4603
Infant Family Mental Health Clinician
Infant Family Mental Health Center
USF St. Petersburg Family Study Center
100 5th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-767-4603
Email
Pediatric Psychologist
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
Dept. of Psychology
Child Development and Rehabilitation Center
880 South Sixth Street
Suite 420
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone 727-767-8105
Fax 727-767-8244
lhiltbr1@jhmi.edu
Court Community Coordinator
Pinellas County Justice Center
14250 49th St N
Clearwater, FL 33762
727-464-7421
Email
Directions for Living – Project H.O.P.E.
8550 Ulmerton Rd. Suite 145
Largo, FL 33771
727-524-4464
Pinnacle ADHD Counseling
200 Central Ave Suite 18-G
St. Petersburg, Fl. 33801
941-465-0686
Email
Private Practitioner
Cross Pointe Plaza
3530 1st Ave. S.
St. Petersburg, FL 33713
727-278-6199
Email
Infant Family Mental Health Clinician
Infant Family Mental Health Center
USF St. Petersburg Family Study Center
University of South Florida St. Petersburg
100 5th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-767-4603
Email
Registered Clinical Social Work Intern
Directions for Living
8550 Ulmerton Rd. Suite 145
Largo, FL 33771
727-524-4464
Email
Private practitioner
443-690-0642
Email
Executive Director
The Consciously Parenting Project, Inc.
526 Alt 19
Palm Harbor, FL 34683
727-467-1333
Email
Virtual sessions available
Infant Family Mental Health Clinician
Infant Family Mental Health Center
USF St. Petersburg Family Study Center
100 5th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-767-4603
Email
School Psychologist
Email
(727) 434-0766
Chief Operating Officer, Family Study Center
Clinical Director Infant-Family Mental Health Center
University of South Florida St. Petersburg
100 5th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: 727-873-4848
Office: 727-767-4603
Email
Infant-Family Mental Health Clinician
Infant-Family Center
USF St. Petersburg Family Study Center
100 5th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-767-4603
Email
Adoption Related Services of Pinellas
3941 68th Ave N.
Pinellas Park, FL 33781
Email
727-515-1688
Private Practitioner
804-241-7097
Private Practitioner
11168 55th avenue
Seminole, FL 33772
716-570-6108
Email
University of South Florida St. Petersburg
Department of Psychology
Private Practitioner
20 22nd St S
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
727-225-9362
Email
CIRCLE OF SECURITY® (COS) PARENTING™ FACILITATORS
Infant Family Center
USF St. Petersburg Family Study Center
100 5th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-767-4603
Infant Family Mental Health Volunteer
Infant Family Center/USF St. Petersburg Family Study Center
100 5th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-767-4603
Infant-Family Center
USF St. Petersburg Family Study Center
100 5th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-767-4603
Email
Infant Family Center
USF St. Petersburg Family Study Center
100 5th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-873-4848
Email
Infant-Family Center
USF St. Petersburg Family Study Center
100 5th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-265-2049
Email
Infant-Family Center (Training and Clinical Director)
USF St. Petersburg Family Study Center (Chief Operating Officer)
University of South Florida St. Petersburg
100 5th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Office: 727-873-4848
Cell: 727-215-8259
Email
Additional COVID-era Resources
VIDEO BRIEF: COPARENTING INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN DURING THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
James McHale, Ph.D (Taped during the U.S. sheltering-at-home mandate, March, 2020)
VIDEO BRIEF: HELPING YOUNG CHILDREN MANAGE BIG FEELINGS
Maureen Griner, LMHC