Additional History

The Family Life Center was founded by Dr. John McNeely and six local churches:

• Trinity Presbyterian Church 
• Temple Beth Shalom-Palm Coast
• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church 
• St. Mark by the Sea Lutheran Church
• St. Thomas Episcopal Church
• First United Methodist Church of Bunnell
  

The Family Life Center was certified by the State of Florida Department of Children and Families as a domestic violence center for Flagler County in 2002 in accordance with Chapter 39, Section 903, Florida Statutes. The Family Life Center is the only state-certified domestic violence center for Flagler County and is a member of the 42-certified member Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence that covers all 67 Florida counties. The Family Life Center was certified by the Florida Council on Sexual Violence as a Rape Crisis Center on November 18, 2015.

Other Essential Support Services Include:

• Safety planning
  
• Provision of food, clothing, personal care items and transportation
  
• Individual and group crisis counseling
  
• Assistance in acquiring emergency and non-emergency medical care
  
• Assistance in acquiring legal aid and representation - court advocacy
  
• Referral to agencies and organizations for financial assistance
  
• Referral for employment assistance
  
• Assistance in accessing private counseling & Life skills training (parenting classes, budgeting, assistance with GED preparation and other employment enhancement skills, goal planning)
  

In addition to direct services, the Family Life Center is engaged in numerous outreach programs in the community that focus on awareness of and deterrents to domestic violence and sexual violence. The Family Life Center partners with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Bunnell Police Department, Flagler Beach Police Department, Florida Hospital Flagler, Florida Department of Children and Families, Community Partnership for Children, and various civic organizations, local churches, and the community at large.

• The Family Life Center relies primarily on Federal and State grants to support its operations. There is additional support provided through local governments, various charitable and community agencies, general contributions, and fundraising initiatives.