NAFI’s history in Florida began in 1993, as a provider of residential care to high-risk adjudicated youth committed to out of home placement, under contract with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Today, NAFI Corporate manages several programs for adjudicated youth and families involved in the Child Welfare system.
DEB YATES
Regional Director, Statewide contact NAFI FL
DebYates@nafi.com
John Burek
Assistant Regional Director, NAFI FL
johnburek@nafi.com
Interpreter Services for the Hearing-Impaired
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you are entitled to interpreter services at no cost to you. Services may be accessed through Florida Relay by dialing 711 or calling toll free:
- (800) 955-8770 (Voice) (800) 955-8771 (TTY) (877) 955-8773 (Spanish) (877) 955-8707 (French Creole)
If services are needed: Any person who believes that he/she has been discriminated or retaliated against in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and/or the American Disabilities Act of 1990 may file a complaint in writing or by calling:
- Office of Civil Rights 1317 Winewood Boulevard, Building 1, Room 110, Tallahassee, FL 32399; (850) 487-1901 (Voice); (850) 922-9220 (TTY)
Parenting with Love and Limits
In 2015 NAFI’s focus shifted from residential programming to community-based services, with the award of a contract with the Department of Juvenile Justice to provide Parenting with Love & Limits (PLL) evidence based re-entry service to the parents of youth committed to DJJ facilities throughout the State, with a medium to high risk of reoffending.
To date, NAFI provides PLL services to youth and families in:
- Circuit 4 Duval, Clay, and Nassau Counties
- Circuit 10 Polk, Hardee, and Highlands Counties
Kim Pizarro Program Director, PLL Services
Welcome & Respite Support Center
In 2022, NAFI entered into a contract with Heartland for Children (HFC) for the start-up and operation of the Welcome and Respite Support Center, located in Bartow, Florida. The 14-bed Center serves as a short-term, temporary coed shelter for youth involved in the Child Welfare system who are in need of a temporary overnight placement or hourly respite care.
The Center serves youth in:
- Circuit 10 Polk, Hardee, and Highlands Counties
Deb Yates Regional Director, NAFI FL
Functional Family Therapy
In 2023, NAFI began providing Functional Family Therapy (FFT), a nationally researched and evidenced model of intensive in-home family therapy, to youth and families involved in the Child Welfare system in Circuit 10. Funding is provided through contracts with Central Florida Behavioral Health Network (CFBHN) and Heartland for Children. The outcome driven and relational therapy involves all members within the family working together to prevent out-of-home placement and/or reunification for youth.
FFT is provided in:
- Circuit 10 FFT (HFC) Polk, Hardee, and Highlands Counties
JOHN BUREK Assistant Regional Director, NAFI FL
Regional Office:
1545 Lakeland Hills Boulevard
Lakeland, FL 33805
Functional Family Therapy – Foster Care (FFT-FC)
In 2023, NAFI was awarded a contract with the Department of Children and Families to provide a unique service model, FFT – Foster Care, to youth, their foster families and their permanency families residing in Circuit 10. FFT-FC provides intensive in-home therapy to youth and their foster families while the youth is awaiting a permanency placement. Unique to FFT-FC, once the youth has transitioned to their permanency family, the family unit is stabilized by also receiving FFT services. Youth, foster parents and permanency parents are supported each step of the way.
FFT - Foster Care is provided in:
- Circuit 10 FFT-FC (DCF) Polk, Hardee, and Highlands Counties
JOHN BUREK Assistant Regional Director, NAFI FL
Regional Office:
1545 Lakeland Hills Boulevard
Lakeland, FL 33805