Local Family Care Councils

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 Each service area of the agency has a Local Family Care Council. These councils work with the agency to:

• Advise on local needs.
• Identify gaps in services.
• Advocate for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

There are 15 local Family Care Councils throughout the state of Florida.  Click the below links to visit each council for additional information or connect with us through our contact us form.

• Area 1 Family Care Council - serving Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties
• Area 2 Family Care Council - serving Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Jefferson, Franklin, Leon, Gadsden, Liberty, Gulf, Holmes, Washington, and Wakulla counties
• Area 3 Family Care Council - serving Madison, Taylor, Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Putnam, Suwannee, and Union counties
• Area 4 Family Care Council - serving Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, and St. John counties
• Area 5 Family Care Council - serving Pasco and Pinellas counties
• Area 6 Family Care Council - serving DeSoto, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota counties
• Area 7 Family Care Council - serving Brevard, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties
• Area 8 Family Care Council - serving Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties
• Area 9 Family Care Council - serving Palm Beach county
• Area 10 Family Care Council - serving Broward county
• Area 11 Family Care Council - serving Dade and Monroe counties
• Area 12 Family Care Council - serving Flagler and Volusia counties
• Area 13 Family Care Council - serving Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties
• Area 14 Family Care Council - serving Hardee, Highlands, and Polk counties
• Area 15 Family Care Council - serving Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, St. Lucie counties

Local councils are responsible for:

• Information and Outreach: Provide resources and support to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
•  Family Listening Sessions: Hold at least two sessions per year to hear about local service challenges.
• Public Forums: Host a public forum every six months to get community feedback on council actions. 
• Collaboration: Share information with other local councils. 
• Policy Identification: Highlight local policy issues affecting families and community support. 
• Annual Reporting: Submit a report each year to the Statewide Family Care Council by September 1, detailing proposed policy changes, program recommendations, and service challenges in the area.

Each council has 10–15 members, recommended by the council and appointed by the Governor. 

• At least three members must be individuals receiving or waiting for agency services; one of these must have received services in the last four years.
   
• Other members are family members—parents, grandparents (with consent from parent/guardian), guardians, or siblings of individuals with developmental disabilities.
   

Restrictions:

• Current members of other agency boards or councils cannot serve. 
• Agency for Persons with Disabilities or Agency for Health Care Administration employees are not eligible. 
• Family members within the third degree cannot serve on the same council simultaneously. 
• The council elects a chair for a 1-year term; one person can serve as chair for a maximum of four terms.

Members serve 3-year terms and may be reappointed for one additional term.
 

Members who have served two consecutive terms must wait 12 months before returning.
 

When a term expires or a vacancy occurs, the council recommends candidates to the Governor. The Governor appoints within 45 days after receiving a recommendation. If no appointment is made, the local council shall, by majority vote, select an interim appointment for each vacancy from the panel of candidates recommended by the family-led nomination committee.

Councils must meet at least six times per year in person, by teleconference, or other electronic means.

Council members serve voluntarily but can be reimbursed for travel and per diem.