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Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: Miami-Dade County, FL

The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County invests in a wide range of programs focused on early childhood education, health, after-school and summer youth programs, family and parenting support, and continuous learning and quality improvement.
Photo provided by The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County

Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: Miami-Dade County, FL

Name of Fund: The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County

Percent of Locality’s Children in Poverty: 18.5%

Annual Revenue: $206.4 million (2024, most recent data available)

Funding Mechanism: Property tax (millage rate of $0.48 per $1,000 property)

Year Established: 2002 (reauthorized in perpetuity in 2008)

Percent of Voters Who Approved the Fund, 2002: 66.7%

Percent of Voters Who Approved the Fund, 2008: 85.44%

Expiration Date: None 

Fund Purpose: Early childhood and youth development, children’s health, community engagement, family support, parenting, continuous learning, and quality improvement  

Worked with Children’s Funding Project

  • Children’s Funding Project community of practice member

Filed under:

Early Childhood, Middle Childhood, Youth, Advocates/Intermediaries, Policymakers/Agency Leaders, Publication, Voter-Approved Children’s Funds

QUICK LINKS

Fund History and Description

Fund Purpose and Impact

Governance and Administration

Relevant Links

More Resources

Updates and Events

Fund History and Description
Photo provided by The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County

The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County is supported by a voter-approved special district property tax levy dedicated to improving the lives of children and families. It invests in a wide range of programs focused on early childhood education, health, after-school and summer youth programs, family and parenting support, and continuous learning and quality improvement. The Children’s Trust supports a robust child- and youth-serving ecosystem by providing grant funding to local nonprofit and community-based organizations, universities, and governmental entities that provide high-quality services to children and families.

 A special taxing district to support children first appeared on the ballot in Miami-Dade County in 1988, but failed. In 2002, David Lawrence Jr., the former publisher of The Miami Herald, led a new effort that highlighted how all children could benefit from more resources, culminating with a successful ballot measure campaign that earned 66.7% of the vote that September. The Children’s Trust was launched the following year, providing funding to 64 local organizations to expand services for children across the county. 

In 2008, due to a voluntary sunset clause in its original charter, The Children’s Trust underwent a reauthorization vote during what is now known as the Great Recession. Despite the challenging economic conditions, a campaign once again led by David Lawrence Jr. rallied widespread support. An overwhelming 85.44% of Miami-Dade County voters approved the measure, which added the caveat that The Children’s Trust would exist in perpetuity.

Over the past two decades, The Children’s Trust has become an essential support for Miami-Dade County’s children and families. It has expanded its reach by funding hundreds of programs and initiatives that have positively affected the lives of countless children.

Fund Purpose and Impact
Photo provided by The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County

In fiscal year 2024–2025, the Children’s Trust invested more than $250 million into local programs and agencies dedicated to improving the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County. This funding is strategically allocated across seven priority investment areas:

  1. Thrive by 5 (early childhood development)
  2. Youth development
  3. Parenting
  4. Health and wellness
  5. Family and neighborhood support
  6. Community engagement, awareness, and advocacy
  7. Learning and quality improvement

These priority areas reflect The Children’s Trust’s commitment to supporting children at every stage of development, strengthening families, and building supportive communities. After The Children’s Trust awards grants that align with its purpose, it tracks the funded program carefully to assess the quality of the program.

In fiscal year 2023–2024, The Children’s Trust partnered with 252 agencies to deliver a broad range of critical services and support to families countywide. These efforts resulted in the following: 

  • 38,000 children participated in after-school and summer programs funded by The Children’s Trust.
  • 2,500 children participated in water safety and swim lessons to help prevent drowning.
  • Follow-up services were provided to 15% of the 23,348 children under age 5 who had received developmental screenings. 
  • 83% of K-2 students who participated in summer reading sessions demonstrated improved literacy skills. 
  • 604,123 nutritious meals and snacks were provided during youth programs to support children’s health. 
  • Over 61,000 screenings (vision, dental, and BMI) were conducted to detect and address early health concerns. 
  • 13,495 parents participated in Parent Club workshops focused on strengthening parenting skills. 

These programs delivered meaningful results for children and families, including the following key outcomes: 

  • 96% of parents who attended Parent Club workshops reported gaining skills they intend to put into practice. 
  • Over 90% of children who received early intervention services after developmental screenings showed improvement in social-emotional development and speech and language skills.
  • 99% of parents of children with disabilities agreed or strongly agreed that their child could fully participate in after-school programs with the support provided. 
Governance and Administration

The passage of the Juvenile Welfare Services Act in 1986 authorized the establishment of Children’s Services Councils in Florida, such as The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County. Children’s Services Councils are a form of local government entity that governs a special taxing district contiguous with an existing county. The Children’s Trust was formally created through Miami-Dade County Ordinance 02-247 and serves as a dedicated source of funding to improve the lives of children and families in the county. It is also the largest Children’s Services Council in Florida. 

Florida State Statute 125.901(a) prescribes the governance and oversight of Children’s Services Councils. The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County is governed by its 33-member Board of Directors. The composition of the Board must meet additional requirements outlined by the Miami-Dade County Ordinance that authorized the creation of the Children’s Services Council, including the following: 

  • Seven members appointed by the governor of Florida, based on recommendations submitted by the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners, who receive nominations from the public 
  • Four at-large members appointed by a majority vote of the existing board members
  • The superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools
  • The Miami-Dade County mayor
  • Elected official representatives from local governing bodies

The Board of Directors holds key responsibilities, including hiring the CEO, approving the organization’s annual budget, making funding decisions, coordinating with other child services agencies, and establishing procurement policies. The Children’s Trust employs approximately 80 professionals, led by the board-appointed CEO. Although it does not generally provide services directly, The Children’s Trust allocates funding to a wide range of local nonprofit and community-based organizations to implement evidence-based programs and services for children and families. It also leads in several collective impact projects that allow for co-investment by funders to scale community solutions.