GREEN COVE SPRINGS - Kids First of Florida is expanding its social services in a new venture.

On Thursday, the child welfare and foster care agency held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Spring Park to celebrate its new prevention motorcoach. Many county partners and officials were also in attendance.

In partnership with other county agencies, the motorcoach will bring them all together and provide a one-stop shop for prevention awareness and strategies for a range of topics, including physical and mental health, substance use, domestic violence and human trafficking.

Other agencies involved include the Clay County Sheriff's Office, Clay County Health Department, Clay Action Coalition, Clay Behavioral Health Center, Camelot Community Care, Florida Department of Children and Families, Lutheran Services Health Systems and Quigley House.

“We’re all working together to look at prevention. And, we’re helping with children and families as a community, together,” said Elizabeth Franco, Kids First of Florida CEO. “Really, just taking care of the community and hopefully decreasing the likelihood of children ending up in the foster care system.” 

Franco said the motorcoach will make many stops at local community and pop-up events, bringing a range of prevention materials to share and activities for kids to participate in. 

She hopes the motorcoach can make a true impact in the future and reach families needing support.

“I know that not everybody’s able to get in the car [and] travel to us,” she said. “So, we want to be able to reach out to all parts of the community.”