Resiliency & Mental Health Resources

Resiliency Florida The Power to Persevere

Building resiliency for Florida’s students and families is a top priority of the Florida Department of Education (FDOE). Thanks to our leadership, Florida is on the forefront to ensure all students have the necessary skills and resources to see them through life’s successes and challenges.

History of Resiliency in Florida

In the 2019-2020 school year, Florida’s district schools were required to provide students in grades 6-12 with at least five hours of mental health instruction annually. This instruction is referred to as Resiliency Education, Civic and Character Education, and Life Skills Education.
In 2021, the State Board of Education (SBE) adopted new state academic standards for Character Education and Substance Use and Abuse Prevention.
In 2022, the SBE approved rule language to create a first-in-the-nation approach to student readiness, resiliency, and response and recovery. This is when Mental Health Instruction was updated to Resiliency Education, Civic and Character Education, and Life Skills Education.

Resiliency Florida

Florida is leading a first-in-the-nation approach that empowers students to persevere and overcome life's inevitable challenges. Since 2022, FDOE introduced a dedicated website, BuildResiliency.org, that houses resources for families and educators, as well as a Resiliency Coach training to help support students as they build resiliency.
The Resiliency Coach training is for moms, dads, grandparents, volunteers, and mentors to help support students as they build resiliency. Resiliency Coaches serve as the first layers of support for students. After completing the online training with a 4-hour volunteer practicum, completers are eligible to receive a $150 stipend! Interested volunteers can complete an interest form at BuildResiliency.org/resiliency-coaches.
Available resources on BuildResiliency.org:
- Teacher resources that are designed to support the Resiliency Education Standards and instruction in the classroom.
- Parent resources are designed for parents and children to have conversations about resiliency at home.
- Family Resiliency Reading Guides are designed to continue the conversation around one or more Resiliency Characteristics identified in a good book located on the Resiliency Reading List.
- Additional resources, including Resiliency Characteristic of the Month toolkits, calendars, checklists, and posters.
FDOE is creating a Resiliency Endorsement training that will be another pathway for certified educators to further increase their ability to support students in building resiliency to face day-to-day challenges. This training is planned to be available in 2026.

Hope Florida

Hope Florida is an initiative spearheaded by First Lady Casey DeSantis that utilizes Hope Navigators to unite communities while guiding Floridians on an individualized path to prosperity, economic self-sufficiency, and hope. Hope Navigators are the key to what makes the Hope Florida Model different. These experts work hand-in-hand with individuals to identify their unique barriers and engage all sectors of the community to be a crucial part of the solution.

FDOE’s Hope Navigators focus on supporting parents and guardians of children ages 3 through 5 by providing access to resources with personalized support. FDOE’s Hope Navigators are dedicated to connecting families with educational programs, child screening services, and a wide range of educational resources to meet each family’s individual needs. By offering this support, FDOE’s Hope Florida program empowers families to make informed decisions for their children’s futures for success in school and beyond.

For more information, visit FDOE’s Hope Florida web page.

Mental Health Funding

Florida initially established state funding for school mental health services with an allocation of $75 million in 2019-2020. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, that investment has increased to $180 million. Florida continues to recognize the critical need to address student mental health concerns by making sustained investments to expand mental health funding available to school districts and community providers.

Year-over-year increases in the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) for the district Mental Health Assistance Allocation (MHAA) Program demonstrate the state’s ongoing commitment to strengthening school-based mental health supports.

Mental Health Appropriations 2018-19 through 2025-26 (PDF)

National Resources

If you feel you or someone in your household may harm themselves or someone else:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Toll-free number: 988
The Lifeline Chat and Text is free and confidential. You’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor in your area.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224

If you need to find treatment or mental health providers in your area:

Early Learning Resources

The Florida Department of Education, Division of Early Learning (DEL) is actively building the capacity of the statewide early care and education workforce to prepare children for school readiness and kindergarten. DEL serves children birth to 13-years-old and supports the whole child by establishing measures to ensure families have access to high-quality childcare and afterschool programs; collaborating with community support programs; and providing early childhood educators access to training in early childhood development, healthy social-emotional development, trauma-informed practice and positive classroom strategies.

With $8,937,325.12 in funding from the Preschool Development Birth to Five Grant (PDG), DEL has awarded sub-grants to early learning coalitions (ELCs) and Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA) to identify and purchase needed social-emotional and/or mental health supports for children and their families, School Readiness (SR) providers and Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) providers.

To access supports, contact the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) office at your local ELC. CCR&R provides services and resources to families, including:

Local mental health resources
Community resources
Quality child care options
Access to developmental screenings
Financial supports

You can locate your local CCR&R here.

The following are resources available to help families keep their child developmentally on track.

Infant/Toddler Specialist Network

Each early learning coalition has a designated representative assigned to the Infant/Toddler Specialist Network. Network representatives get training, technical assistance and resources that they pass on to local providers to help improve overall quality for birth to 3 programs.

Voluntary Prekindergarten Resources

VPK for Children With Special Needs | OEL

Mental Health Resources

The Florida State University Center for Prevention & Early Intervention Policy (CPEIP), is a nationally recognized leader in the field of early childhood mental health. CPEIP offers many resources to address the lifetime effects of trauma and toxic stress on young children. Learn more about CPEIP.
Anxiety Disorders
Childhood Stress
Separation Anxiety
Sibling Rivalry
Normal Childhood Fears
ADHD
Biting
Mental Health Specialists
Learn the importance of talking, reading, and singing with children in sensitive, loving, and responsive ways, to build children’s brains and help them develop the social-emotional skills they need to succeed in school and life.
Become aware of the special concerns, needs, and issues that brothers and sisters often have when another child in the family has a developmental disability. Watch the video, Needs of Brothers, Sisters and Parents, to learn about the unique bonds that children have with brothers and sisters, the range of emotions that many siblings experience toward their sibling with a disability, and how parents and other family members can listen to, support all their children.

Natural Disasters and Traumatic Event Resources

What is PTSD? | In English and in Spanish
The National Center for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) can tell you--and connect individuals, friends, families, and veterans with a network of professionals to help.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children
From Medscape, this article looks at the "practice essentials" for diagnosing and addressing PTSD in children. It's a good read for professionals and parents alike; it's easy to read, yet framed from a clinician's point of view.
Tips for Talking with and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event
This guide can help parents, caregivers, and teachers learn more about the common reactions children and youth have to trauma, how to respond in a helpful way, and when (and where) to seek support.
Home Management Strategies for PTSD
What parents can do to help their child cope with trauma and the anxiety that may result. Very practical, very basic.
Helping Young Children Cope After Exposure to a Traumatic Event
Tragedies are especially distressing to families with young children. This resource from Zero to Three is designed to help parents navigate this very challenging time. It includes symptoms a child might display, suggestions for what parents can do, and several resources they can turn to for more information.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/children.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/differences.html
American Academy of Pediatrics

Autism and Communication Disorders

The Baby Navigator provides resources and tools to support families in tracking their babies’ growth and development from birth to 24 months and screening babies for communication delay and early signs of autism.
Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) Program
Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times
Support Understanding
Card Center for Autism & Related Disabilities at the University of South Florida
Card Center for Autism & Related Disabilities at the University of Central Florida

Developmental Screening and Developmental Delay Resources

Help Me Grow Florida (HMG) is located in 37 counties throughout Florida and serves all children birth to age eight (regardless of income). HMG ensures that children have the best possible start in life by providing free developmental and behavioral screenings, care coordination and connection to resources and services.
Inclusion Warm Line services are provided by local ELCs to assist parents and providers with information and referrals for child evaluations and inclusive services. The Inclusion Specialists supports childcare providers and parents with technical assistance, planning focused interventions for individual children who require additional supports and linking children to early interventions services prior to kindergarten entry. You may find your local Inclusion Warm Line for your area via the ELC Directory.
Florida Early Steps provides statewide information and resources parents or caregivers of children with diagnosed or suspected developmental delays or disabilities from birth to 3. Contact the Florida Early Steps Directory at 1-800-218-0001.
Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources Systems (FDLRS) provides diagnostic, instructional and technology support services for families or students with disabilities. Visit their website to locate your local FDLRS office or contact the FDLRS Administration Office at 1-386-312-2265.
Child Mind Institute (resources for families of children with special needs)

Health Care

Florida KidCare is the umbrella brand for the four government-sponsored health insurance programs – Medicaid, MediKids, Florida Healthy Kids and the Children's Medical Services (CMS) Health Plan – that together provide a seamless continuum of coverage for Florida children from birth through the end of age 18.

Home Visiting Programs

The Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) is a home-based, early intervention program that helps parents create experiences for their children that lay the foundation for success in school and later life. The program is designed specifically for those parents who may not feel confident in their own abilities to teach their children.
The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida identifies, funds, supports and tests innovative programs to improve the life outcomes of children, preserve and strengthen families and promote healthy behavior and functioning in society, recognizing that the wisest money spent is on prevention.

K12 Resources

Local resources, including mental health professionals, are essential in addressing the needs of Florida’s youth. With the goal of building resiliency and helping children persevere through life’s challenges, FDOE is committed to the well-being of Florida’s children and students.

To help families access support for their children, parents and caregivers are encouraged to contact their child’s school to connect with Student Services professionals and learn about available resources and supports.

In accordance with section 1006.041, Florida Statutes, the MHAA Program allocation is to assist districts with establishing or expanding school-based mental health care; training educators and other school staff in detecting and responding to mental health issues; and connecting children, youth and families who may experience behavioral health issues with appropriate services. The application must be submitted annually to the FDOE by August 1.

Florida College System Mental Health Resources

As Florida’s students advance through their educational journey, oftentimes mental illness gets overlooked when they enter postsecondary education. Students with psychological or emotional challenges often suffer from a variety of symptoms which could affect their school, work and home lives.

Florida’s 28 colleges offer counseling services, free of charge, to students experiencing difficulties coping with the demands of college life and society as a whole. Below are links to each college’s mental health resources to help students manage stress and succeed in fulfilling their life and academic goals.