As the halls of Escambia County Public Schools fill with students and the dedicated efforts of educators, the Escambia Children’s Trust extends its warmest wishes for a safe and successful school year!

We recognize the hard work and commitment of the faculty, staff, and families in fostering the growth and education of young minds in Escambia County. As the 2024-2025 academic year unfolds, may it be filled with opportunities for learning, growth, and achievement, ensuring that each student is supported and inspired on their journey toward a bright future.

Our Children. Our Community. Our Future.

Escambia Connects Bridges the Gap Between Families and Resources

Escambia Connects is a informal mental health support service in Escambia County, to address the pressing mental health needs of children and youth in the most underserved communities. Through research highlighting the critical need for effective, evidence-based informal mental health supports, Escambia Connects is set to bridge gaps in the local mental health system of care, providing essential services where they are needed most.

In partnership with The Escambia Children’s Trust, Escambia Connects tackles the challenges of stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues affecting children, youth, and families through a community-led model. This model draws from the success of Twin Oaks’ Project Connect, integrating it into a four-tiered approach designed to deliver the right level of service at the right time and in the appropriate dosage, tailored to each individual’s needs.

Escambia Connects’ innovative four-tiered approach ensures that mental health support is accessible, timely, and effective. These tiers include education and awareness, basic care, case management and connections to formal systems.

Tier 1 is education and awareness. The foundation of Escambia Connects is its commitment to raising awareness about the importance of mental health and breaking the stigma associated with mental health challenges. Through community-based campaigns, the program identifies children and youth at risk, ensuring that early interventions are possible. These campaigns are designed to inform the community about available supports and encourage proactive mental health care.

Tier 2 is basic care. For those identified as needing informal mental and behavioral support, Escambia Connects sends trained mental health support specialists to provide in-home and community-based services. These evidence-based supports are tailored to meet the basic mental and behavioral health needs of children and youth, offering a crucial layer of care before more intensive interventions are necessary.

Tier 3 is case management. When a child or youth’s needs surpass basic care, the program steps up with comprehensive case management services. These services are directed at individuals who have been formally assessed and are in need of trauma-informed care or more specialized mental health support. Case managers ensure that these young individuals receive the appropriate services, monitoring progress and adjusting care plans as needed.



Tier 4 is connections to formal systems. The highest level of support within Escambia Connects involves seamless integration with formal mental health systems. Case managers facilitate connections to evidence-based services that fill critical gaps before, during, and after formalized mental health treatment. This tier is essential for ensuring continuity of care and addressing complex mental health needs in a comprehensive manner.

By addressing the mental health needs of children and youth in underserved areas, Escambia Connects is building a stronger, healthier future for all of Escambia County.

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Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast Wraps Up Successful Summer Program

As the summer comes to a close, the Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast is celebrating the successful conclusion of its summer programming, made possible with funding and support from Escambia Children’s Trust. This year’s program, designed to keep young minds engaged and thriving during summer break. Programming featured a comprehensive homework and tutoring initiative for all Club members, alongside learning activities that reinforced academic concepts in a fun and interactive environment.

The summer program was built around Project Learn, a dynamic approach that allowed Boys & Girls Club staff to integrate educational enrichment into everyday activities. Members participated in a variety of engaging sessions, including a Reading Club, math drills, and S.T.E.M. projects, which kept their minds sharp and prepared them for the upcoming school year. Creative activities like Jr. Authors and journaling encouraged self-expression, while hands-on tools like LEGO’s, Magna-Blocks, and K’NEX fostered problem-solving skills and teamwork.

In addition to the daily learning activities, the program included exciting field trips that expanded the horizons of the young participants. Club members visited the Kennedy Space Center, where they were inspired by the wonders of space exploration and the possibilities of a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (S.T.E.M.). College tours to Alabama State University and Troy University provided older members with a glimpse of higher education, motivating them to consider their future academic and career paths.

As the Boys & Girls Club looks forward to the new school year, the success of this summer’s program underscores the importance of continued investment in youth education and development. With the help of the Escambia Children’s Trust, the Club remains committed to its mission of empowering young people to reach their full potential, both inside and outside the classroom.

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July and August captured the end of an active, successful season for our ECT-supported summer enrichment programs.  We were able to observe the gamut of services from youth leadership, community service-driven activities to intensive clinical support for our families who suffered the loss of a loved one.  ECT providers continued to carry out the mission to enhance the lives of deserving children and families with high quality programs and exceptional services.  Look at what our team captured during our site visits, community events, and ECT-sponsored activities.  

Chain Reaction

Nonie's Place - Camp Monarch

Adults are aware that loss is a part of the Circle of Life; however, young children may have some difficulties with understanding the grieving process.  Camp Monarch provided nurturing, healing hands to all participants big and small.  This supportive space allowed children, ages 9-13, to express their emotions through innovative projects, comforting music, and unlimited hugs from devoted clinicians and community volunteers.  To witness the smiles on their faces, even after such traumatic experiences, created joy that only magical monarchs could deliver.  

National Night Out

Escambia Children’s Trust was amongst 50 vendors who were privileged to welcome families during this annual, fun-filled event! The staff was excited for the opportunity to inform visitors about the origins of ECT, details on our numerous programs and services, as well as personally escort them to the tables of providers who were also in attendance.  It was a memorable time for all and an excellent way to ensure the public was enlightened of the available community support to meet the individual needs of their deserving families. 

Parade of Providers

This was the First Annual Parade of Providers Event that was established to allow our outstanding ECT contracted providers to display their programs, highlight resources and services, collaborate with other professionals, and a good excuse to celebrate the wonderful organizations who support families throughout Escambia County.  The provider's engagement and collaboration were exhilarating, and the smiles were infectious!  It was exactly the motivation needed to jumpstart the new school year!  

If you have children ages 0-8 years of age and would like to know more about their development - whether it is behavioral, educational, physical, or emotional, Help Me Grow Escambia has the resources you need. 

Contact a care coordinator by calling 850-378-0322.

Join the Escambia Children's Trust at our monthly board meeting!

These meetings are open to the public, and we encourage our community to attend. Ask questions, get your questions answered, or simply listen to the plans that we are setting in place for the Trust.

If you can't attend the meeting, you can find more details on our website at www.escambiachildrenstrust.org/meetings.

To stay up-to-date with the Escambia Children's Trust, check out our website at EscambiaChildrensTrust.org. 

If you want to know all about what we're doing at the Trust, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@escambiachildrenstrust), and stay subscribed to our newsletter, The Community Voice.