The program is funded by The Children’s Trust as part of its Family and Neighborhood Support Partnerships (FNSP), The Miami Foundation, The Carrie Meek Foundation and Peacock Foundation.
Through door-to-door canvassing in community hotspots and neighboring referral sites, our Community Connectors conduct initial screening assessments to identify client strengths and develop strategies to meet their needs. Working hand in hand, Success Coaches help families navigate systems of support by connecting them to social services, therapies, beneficial programs as well as essential stabilization items they may need, like assistance with transportation and short-term housing help.
The main service the beneficiaries receive, in addition to other services, is the counseling and mental health assistance. This service is currently provided by a third party, however, the long term plan is to offer this service through Be Strong International’s own mental health professionals. Â
Services offered to participants include connections and referrals to obtain help with:
If you are interested in receiving any of these benefits for the areas of Richmond Heights, Goulds, Princeton, South Miami Heights, and Perrine, please fill out the form below.
For more information, please contact Everson Joseph at (305) 969.7829 ext. 117Â or email us in the Contact Us page.
Made possible by:
“Thank you for the time, for the humanity Be Strong staff had towards me. Thank you for paying attention to the common people…I’m extremely grateful they insisted, and I hope there are more people, more Be Strong’s everywhere, more associates that can help, more people helping them help others; because help is coming to us, it gets here, the help gets home, well, it got here! And for that I’m grateful, thank you very much!” – Vanesa Gonzalez
Vanesa Gonzalez has survived domestic violence, sexual trauma and the loss of two children. Today, thanks to the help she received from Be Strong International, she and her remaining child are putting their lives back together and facing the future with confidence.
Vanesa is a single mother from Argentina. As a child, she experienced sexual trauma that continued into adulthood and was compounded by domestic violence. Even worse, her two oldest children were kidnapped by their biological father, and she has been unable to see or speak to them for years. Despite the trauma and suffering from these ordeals, Vanesa has done her best to move forward. She came to the United States with her youngest son to make a better life.
It has not been easy. Her son, who is now 18, has Asperger’s syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder on the autism spectrum which affects social interaction. She works as a housekeeper and struggles to make ends meet while trying to get her son the help he needs.
Despite everything, they have a close relationship. It’s “us against the world,” she says.
Realizing she couldn’t do it alone, she came to Be Strong on the Block, our comprehensive support program for children, youth and families from high-need communities in south Miami-Dade County. Vanesa requested help paying rent and utilities along with mental health counseling. It was the first step in a life-changing journey.
Since coming to Be Strong on the Block, she has been accepted into the Advocate Program, which provides rental assistance, and the Agape Network, where she will receive therapy for the trauma she’s experienced. Additionally, resources and information were given to help her son with extracurricular activities and job placement when he’s ready.
Vanesa has expressed how grateful she is that Be Strong on the Block listened to her story and that the program staff has advocated and fought for her and her son to get the help they need.
“Be Strong International to Host Monthly Food Drives in 2023
500 Families will Receive Free Food Packages
Be Strong International continues their effort to support stronger communities by hosting monthly food distribution drives in the Goulds community. On the second Thursday of each month, for the rest of the year, Be Strong International will host these monthly food drives to support those who may be suffering from food shortages. Families who are in need will be provided with free packages of food that include dairy, protein, canned food items, bread, among other food items.
These food drives will be hosted by Be Strong International in collaboration with Farm Share, the Office of Commissioner Kionne McGhee, District 9, Project Peace and Miami Dade County.”
A coalition of 28 organizations that consist of non-profits, community leaders, and churches of South Dade organized a Back-to-School Community Fair where over 1,750 bookbags filled with school supplies were distributed to students and community members were provided with over 1,500 meals, over 21 raffle prizes, free medical services, entertainment, games and much more!
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