In 1988, Hillsborough County residents voted to establish the Children’s Board, creating a dedicated mechanism to fund programs that benefit children and families through a millage rate of $0.4589 per $1,000 of assessed value. The Children’s Board’s mission is to invest in partnerships and high-quality programs that promote the well-being and success of children and families throughout Hillsborough County. Rather than providing direct services, the Children’s Board invests in the community by awarding grants to nonprofit organizations and local agencies that deliver evidence-based programs in health education, family support, and youth development. Through strategic funding and collaboration, the Children’s Board strengthens the local network of services available to children and families.

Initially, the Children’s Board focused primarily on early childhood initiatives, reflecting growing recognition of the importance of the first years of life in shaping long-term outcomes. Over time, its scope has expanded to support a full continuum of services for children from prenatal development through age 18, ensuring consistent support at every stage of development.

Fund Purpose and Impact

The Children’s Board of Hillsborough County invests in a coordinated network of programs and services that support children and families from prenatal development through age 18. During the 2025 contract year, the Children’s Board funded 92 programs that served more than 56,000 participants. Across all measured outcomes, 78% of participants met or surpassed benchmark targets, demonstrating the effectiveness of the programs funded through the Children’s Board’s strategic investments.

Funding is guided by four core focus areas:

Children Are Healthy and Safe: Supports prenatal and postpartum care, child safety, and safer housing
Children Are Developmentally on Track: Emphasizes early identification of developmental needs through screenings and timely interventions
Children Are Ready to Learn and Succeed: Invests in school readiness, early childhood education, and youth development programs
Family Support: Strengthens family stability and well-being by connecting parents and caregivers to community resources, enhancing skills related to economic mobility, financial literacy, and effective parenting

Beyond these focus areas, Children’s Board funding supports a broad range of community-based initiatives that address both specialized and basic needs. Programs include the following:

Specialized summer camps for children with varying abilities
Program scholarships for youth ages 6-17
Assistance with a broad range of services including rent and utility payments, transportation, tutoring, and essential baby supplies available through a flex funding pool

Through these comprehensive and coordinated efforts, the Children’s Board works to ensure that every child in Hillsborough County has access to the opportunities, services, and support necessary to grow and thrive.

Governance and Administration

The passage of the Juvenile Welfare Services Act in 1986 authorized the establishment of Children’s Services Councils in Florida. Children’s Services Councils, such as the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, are a form of local government entity that governs a special taxing district contiguous with an existing county. (More information on this type of special government is available from the Florida Alliance of Children’s Councils & Trusts.) Florida State Statute 125.901(a) prescribes Children’s Services Council governance and oversight.

The Children’s Board of Hillsborough County is overseen by a 10-member governing board composed of both designated public officials and appointed community representatives—a structure that blends state and local leadership with community representation to guide the organization’s work. Five members serve by virtue of their public positions:

The superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools
A Hillsborough County School Board member
The district administrator from the Florida Department of Children and Family Services
A Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners member
A judge assigned to juvenile cases as designated by the chief judge

The remaining five members are Hillsborough County residents appointed by the governor of Florida.

The governing board’s duties include approving the annual budget, appointing the executive director, and setting policies to ensure responsible management of public resources. Implementation of these policies and day-to-day operations are handled by the Children’s Board staff who manage planning, grantmaking, community partnerships, research, evaluation, and technical support. Together, this governance and administrative framework ensures accountability, transparency, and a coordinated approach to serving children and families across Hillsborough County.