With more than 3.5 million citizens, Central Florida’s seven-county region ranks among the nation's fastest growing metropolitan areas.  It is projected that over the next 45 years, the population of the region will more than double to 7.2 million residents. While this vitality provides many positive opportunities for Central Florida, it also offers challenges as we strive to maintain and improve the quality of life for all residents.

The myregion.org Quality of Life Demographics and Social Services Implementation Team reviewed more than 25 key issues relating to Social Services, to address the question of how the need for, and delivery of, social services will change over the next 20 years.

The prioritized final list of core Social Services reflects the whole, rather than all the pieces of Social and Human Service delivery in the future. There are many services not directly identified on the list that are the “effect” when key “causes” are addressed. Thus, some of the key services are symptoms of bigger issues not addressed holistically.

For example, the committee identified transportation as an important issue when looking at social services. However, it is not proposed that the social services industry create a transportation plan for the region. Rather, the committee simply noted that if transportation access and availability are increased in the region, several of the chronic issues that create needs for social services would be alleviated.

The committee also addressed how the expected demographic changes that the region will experience, an aging of the population and a continued increase of cultural diversity, will impact the way services are dispersed in the future.

Variations among demographics and jurisdictional boundaries have divided important community resources such as healthcare, public transportation, affordable housing, and social services.  While people in all communities require access to benefits, services readily available in one county may be limited or nonexistent in another.  To remain globally competitive in the 21^st century, Central Florida must be prepared to use innovative and cost-efficient manners to ensure that services are provided that allow every resident to remain healthy, safe, and cared for.

The preliminary findings were presented to the myregion.org Board of Directors at the October Board meeting in Lake County.  Mark Brewer of the Community Foundation of Central Florida, and Co-Chair of the Demographics Committee, outlined initial recommendations that include:

- Create a Region-Wide Human Services Alliance:
Creat an alliance that includes at least three representatives each from the seven Counties designated in the following areas: Government, Private Sector, Nonprofit Sector, Hospitals, Elected Officials, State Disaster Officials and anchored by the five United Way organizations in the Region.

- Improve Corporate Engagement:

Encourage access to resources, expertise and influence while also including Social Service outcomes in corporate planning projects.

- Bridge the Sectors:
Convene discussions with leaders in all three sectors: Donors, Philanthropists and Funders and engage Donors Forums across the region, while connecting State plans with Corporate and Independent Sector strategies with an ultimate focus on access to Social Services.

The committee’s final research will be completed and ready for release in early December.