About Us
In providing for human services needs, Palm Beach County augments its own services mix by providing financial assistance to community-based organizations via Financially Assisted Agencies (FAA). Established in the early 1980s, FAA is a program within the Administrative section of the Community Services Department (CSD).
FAA Funded organizations are monitored by CSD to maintain strict fiscal and service integrity. Funding provided by the Board of County Commissioners to local health and human service program agencies throughout Palm Beach County is managed by staff within the department.
FAA funded programs are monitored by CSD's Contracts, Compliance and Program Performance section. Demographic and Outcome data collected from the FAA funded agencies, as well as other County resources for planning purposes are managed by the CSD Strategic Performance Research and Evaluation section. The department staff operates under the supervision of James Green, Director of Community Services. A volunteer, Board of County Commissioner's appointed Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) has input on the FAA process as well. The mission of the CAC is to "assist" the Board of County Commissioners in the assessment of need, planning and implementation and evaluation of the System of Care, as defined in the Health and Human Services Element of the Palm Beach County Comprehensive Plan." Essentially, the committee recommends service priorities prior to the FAA Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process. They base these recommendations on community assessments and other information gathering processes.
Currently, the County funds in excess of $13,000,000 million dollars to local not-for profit agencies through a formal Notice of Funding process. The CAC incorporates the Health and Human Services Element of the Comprehensive Plan into its decision-making process. The purpose of the Health and Human Services Element is "to assist in the development of an infrastructure to ensure availability of health and human services sufficient to protect the health, safety and welfare of Palm Beach County residents.
The Element identifies the County's role in funding, providing and/or supporting the delivery of health and human services; it also defines the County's relationship with other funders and providers of services for the purpose of maximizing the resources and benefits available to Palm Beach County residents." (Palm Beach County-HHS Element, Revised 04/12/01)
CSD's FAA program goals include continuing working closely with the community and funders to find the best way to supplement services that are recognized as "needs" to agencies. These agencies continue to demonstrate their ability to provide useful and valuable services to the clients they serve. Additionally, through FAA funding, CSD strives to support implementation of recognized best and emerging practices, evidence based practices, Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely (SMART) Outcomes, backed up by data that enhance community systems of care serving Palm Beach County Residents.