Government and community in Port St. Lucie, FL

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Council on Aging of St. Lucie, Inc (COASL) was founded in 1973 by 25 volunteers dedicated to providing a daily hot meal to seniors; the predecessor to the Meals on Wheels Program. Over the years, COASL has grown in scope and size to now provide a number of services including homemaking, respite care, adult day care, social senior services and other programs to reflect the agency's mission of providing assistance in delaying premature placement of seniors into long term care facilities. Today, COASL provides services to more than 25, 000 seniors annually. The agency employs over 100 full and part-time employees and utilizes the services of over 200 volunteers to successfully administer its programs. COASL is the designated Lead Agency for St. Lucie County for Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) state funded programs. COASL contracts with the Florida Department of Elder Affair (DOEA) through the Treasure Coast Area Agency on Aging (AAA), to provide senior services within the county. Community Transit, a division of COASL, provides transportation for seniors within the county for a myriad of senior programs. Community Transit, through contract with the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, is the public transportation provider for St. Lucie County. In addition, in cooperation with the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Community Transit is the designated Medicaid Coordinator for non-emergency trips for St. Lucie County. In 2001-2002, Community Transit provided more than 172, 000 one-way trips throughout the county. COASL operates one of the two facilities within St. Lucie county. COASL administrative headquarters is located at 2501 SW Bayshore Blvd., Port St. Lucie. In addition to administration, this facility has an adult day care and a senior center. Community Transit is located at 1505 Orange Avenue in Fort Pierce, Florida. In addition to the Transit operations is a senior care and an adult day care. Darrell J. Drummond, President/CEO of COASL, is responsible for the day-to-day supervision and administration of all COASL operations. Under the direction of COASL's Board of Directors, COASL continues to lead the area in providing needed services to an ever growing population of seniors in St. Lucie county.

In 1998, it was the intent of the Legislature that the Department of Children and Families should outsource the provision of foster care and related services statewide. United for Families was the only agency to write a proposal to request consideration for the role of the community-based care lead agency to provide foster care and related services in District 15. United for Families was created in 2002. Several agencies worked together and assisted in the formation of United for Families. The agencies were: Children's Home Society of Florida, Family Preservation Services of Florida, Exchange Club Castle, and New Horizons of the Treasure Coast. United for Families received the contract from the Department of Children and Families following the competitive procurement process, and all necessary negotiations. All children known to have been abused or neglected in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie Counties are now the responsibility of United for Families United for Families is a 501 ( C ) ( 3 ) corporation. The mission of United for Families is to break the cycle of child abuse through a diverse network of community partners and innovative services.. Sponsored by United for Families, the State of Florida, and the Department of Children and Families, Privacy Policy is applicable.