Community Counseling is a free, family-centered program designed to help children, teens and families navigate behavioral, emotional and family challenges.
(By DB Graphics with AI)
LSF Family Focus, a program of Lutheran Services Florida (LSF), is expanding its continuum of care for children, youth and families in Miami-Dade County through the addition of SNAP (Stop Now And Plan) and Community Counseling, providing free, evidence-based intervention and counseling services designed to help families address behavioral, emotional and family challenges before they escalate into crises.
The new services complement LSF Family Focus’ existing Children in Need of Services/Families in Need of Services (CINS/FINS) program, which provides intervention, case management and counseling support for youth and families experiencing crisis, conflict and behavioral concerns.
“Families often know when their child is struggling, but they may not know where to turn for help,” said Mike Carroll, CEO of Lutheran Services Florida. “By adding SNAP and Community Counseling to our existing Family Focus services in Miami-Dade County, we’re creating more opportunities for families to access support early, when it can have the greatest impact.”
The services will be available through LSF Miami Bridge Youth & Family Services, which operates two locations in Miami-Dade County and provides crisis intervention, emergency residential services, counseling and prevention programs for youth and families.
Supported by more than 35 years of research, SNAP is an evidence-based cognitive behavioral program that helps children and families manage emotions, reduce conflict and build healthier relationships. Through skill-building activities and guided discussions, participants develop emotional regulation, self-control, problem-solving and decision-making skills, while parents gain tools to strengthen family relationships and reinforce positive behaviors.
In Miami-Dade County, SNAP will offer youth and parent groups, school-based programming and specialized services for adolescents, including justice-involved youth.
The expansion builds on LSF’s success in Northwest and Southwest Florida, where its Southwest Florida SNAP program was recognized as the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services’ 2025 Outstanding Program of the Year.
LSF Family Focus also is expanding access to Community Counseling, a free, family-centered program designed to help children, teens and families navigate behavioral, emotional and family challenges.
“We’ve seen family counseling help families across Florida, and we’re excited to expand that support in Miami-Dade through LSF Miami Bridge,” said Raymond Ballinger, Southeast Florida regional director for LSF Family Focus. “When families have access to the right resources at the right time, they are better equipped to communicate, grow and thrive together.”
Community Counseling serves youth experiencing challenges such as family conflict, defiance, aggression, truancy, substance use concerns and other behaviors that may place them at risk of involvement with the juvenile justice or child welfare systems. Through individualized treatment plans, counseling, case management and connections to additional community resources, LSF works alongside families to create positive change with the goal of keeping youth safe.
To learn more about SNAP, Community Counseling and other LSF Family Focus services, visit https://lsffamilyfocus.org/
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