CINS/FINS

Children and Families in Need of Services

CINS/FINS is Florida's statewide system of free, voluntary services for youth ages 6-17 and their families who are experiencing crisis at home, at school or in the community. Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.

Since 1976, Florida Network member organizations have delivered CINS/FINS services to thousands of youth and families across all 67 Florida counties.

Shelter services are a core component of the Florida Network’s statewide CINS/FINS continuum and are delivered by licensed residential providers under contract with the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services and the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). All shelters contracted under the Florida Network of Youth & Family Services are accredited and licensed as Child Caring Agencies by the Department of Children & Families.

Purpose

CINS/FINS shelters provide a safe, structured and supportive environment designed to:

Protect youth in crisis from harm or homelessness
De-escalate family conflict and promote reunification
Offer short-term counseling, life skills and educational support
Prevent youth from delinquency or dependency system involvement

Services

24/7 supervision and care
Detailed assessment of the youth’s risks needs and strengths
Individual, group, and family counseling
Case management and discharge planning
Educational coordination with local schools
Referrals to health, mental health and substance abuse services as needed

Eligibility

A child for whom there is no pending investigation at the time of referral into an allegation or suspicion of abuse, neglect, or abandonment; there is no pending petition filed with the court alleging the child is delinquent; or no current court-ordered supervision by the Department for delinquency under Chapter 985, F.S., or court-ordered supervision by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) under Chapter 39, F.S. The child must also be found by the court:

To have persistently run away from the child’s parents, legal guardians, or custodians despite reasonable efforts of the child, the parents, legal guardians or custodians, and appropriate agencies to remedy the condition contributing to the behavior.

To be habitually truant from school, while subject to compulsory school attendance, despite reasonable efforts to remedy the situation pursuant to sections 1003.26 and 1003.27, F.S., and services offered by the Florida Network or its authorized agent.

To be ungovernable by having persistently disobeyed the reasonable and lawful demands of the child’s parents, legal guardians or custodians, and to be beyond their control despite the child having the mental and physical capacity to understand and obey the lawful rules and demands, and despite efforts by the child’s parents, legal guardians or custodians and appropriate agencies to remedy the conditions contributing to the behavior.

CINS/FINS Community Counseling Services

The Children/Families in Need of Services (CINS/FINS) Community Counseling Program provides voluntary, family-centered intervention to youth and families who are experiencing conflict, truancy, ungovernable behavior, or other challenges that place youth at risk of entering the juvenile justice or dependency systems.

Community Counseling is designed to strengthen families, resolve conflict and promote stability through counseling and case management services.

CINS/FINS Community Counseling Services are intended to:

Prevent out-of-home placement and delinquency by resolving problems early.
Improve family relationships and communication.
Reduce school truancy, runaway incidents, and ungovernable behaviors.
Build coping, problem-solving, and decision-making skills for youth and families.

Services Provided

Detailed assessment of the youth’s risks, needs and strengths.

Individual, family, and group counseling delivered in the home, school, office, or community setting.

Development and implementation of individualized service plans.

Case management and linkage to community resources and supports.

Crisis intervention and coordination with schools, law enforcement, DJJ, and other child-serving systems.
Follow-up and aftercare services to ensure ongoing family stability.

Eligibility

Youth and families may receive CINS/FINS Community Counseling services if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

The youth is between 6 and 17 years old.
The youth or family is experiencing behavioral problems, truancy, runaway, or ungovernable behavior that places the youth at risk of entering the CINS/FINS system.
The youth and family voluntarily agree to participate in services.
There is no current court-ordered supervision under Chapter 985 (delinquency) or Chapter 39 (dependency), and no open DCF investigation for abuse or neglect.

CINS/FINS Community Counseling Services

Shelter services are a core component of the Florida Network’s statewide CINS/FINS continuum and are delivered by licensed residential providers under
contract with the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services and the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). All shelters contracted under the Florida Network of Youth & Family Services are accredited and licensed as Child Caring Agencies by the Department of Children & Families.

Services

24/7 supervision and care
Detailed assessment of the youth’s risks, needs and strengths
Individual, group, and family counseling
Case management and discharge planning
Educational coordination with local schools
Referrals to health, mental health and substance abuse services as needed

Eligibility

Between 10 and 17 years old.

Running Away
Truant
Beyond the reasonable control of the parent or guardian
The youth and family voluntarily agree to participate in services.
There is no current court-ordered supervision under Chapter 985 (delinquency) or Chapter 39 (dependency), and no open DCF investigation for abuse or neglect.
Not prescribed injectable medications

NEED MORE

More Help?

If the CINS/FINS services listed above do not meet your needs, additional youth and family support services may be available in your area through the options listed below:

Case Staffing Committee

If your family's situation is complex or standard services have not been enough, your CINS/FINS counselor may recommend a Case Staffing Committee. This is a meeting — not a court hearing — that brings together your family, your counselor, a school representative and others who know your child to develop a more comprehensive plan. You may also request a Case Staffing Committee yourself. Submit the request in writing to your local CINS/FINS provider. The meeting must be held within seven working days.

CINS Petition Involuntary Services

A CINS petition is a formal request to the court to find that a child is in need of services. It is only filed as a last resort, after voluntary services have been tried and have not resolved the situation. The petition is filed by a local DJJ attorney, not by the family. As a parent, you also have the right to file your own CINS petition if the local program has not followed proper procedures or you disagree with the service plan.

Anchor Point Physically Secure Program

Anchor Point is a physically secure residential facility in Jacksonville for youth ages 10-17 who have been court-ordered due to runaway behavior, ungovernability or truancy. The facility was developed by the Florida Network, funded through a 2024 Florida Legislature appropriation, and is operated on the ground by Youth Crisis Center. Programming includes education, counseling, case management and aftercare services, all focused on the goal of family reunification.

Referral Sources

Referrals may be received from parents or guardians, schools, law enforcement, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Children and Families or other community agencies. Self-referrals are also accepted.