Why 32209?

Jacksonville’s zip code 32209 is a community with rich history and traditions. Over the past two decades, community members from this zip code have continued to thrive despite the overwhelming challenges and inequity of resources. But those challenges have been steep. The 32209 zip code has the highest number of stressors, such as violence, poverty and unemployment, and intergenerational trauma that impacts marginalized families. The families living within this zip code has faced overwhelming obstacles in well-being domains with severely high poverty related disparities in physical and mental health.

A geo-mapping analysis encompassed Section 8 housing, community centers, schools, nonprofits and faith-based institutions within every health zone in Jacksonville. Health Zone 1 (HZ1), located in the geographic zip code of 32209 and serving as Jacksonville’s urban core, emerged as a significant geographic area of concern despite a disproportionate number of nonprofits and faith-based institutions. Despite the array of social services, 32209 displayed overwhelming inequities in every health and well-being domain for over two decades with severe rates of poverty and poor social determinants of health.

Geo-mapping analysis findings identified a cluster of vulnerable families within a distinct 3.5 square mile area of the total 9.33 square mile geographic zone where impact could most be felt in supporting the largest number of children and families.

FSS decided to shift their approach to serving families in the geographic zone of 32209 by focusing on engaging the community and co-designing with residents in the development of a strategic plan driven and delivered by community members. The residents of the community were treated as the experts and helped direct the focus of the Center, the eventual name and even the logo. FSS invited social service partners and faith-based entities to convene around the vision set forth by the residents themselves.

FSS firmly believes that children are best served when they can be safely supported with their families and communities.

Our How

To keep children and families safe and stable, we will co-design and deliver services and supports in partnership with our 32209 neighbors and community stakeholders.  We will ensure that the services are accessible, respectful and relevant and that they are rooted in the life experiences of people who live in the 32209 zip code.  We will do this through our collaborative process, as shared in the Emmett Reed Community Center space. 

Through our early conversations with the families and individuals in the zip code 32209 we learned that the community had clear priorities for what they wanted as residents. Since that time, the community work has been disbursed into viable phases to remain inclusive and take into account all points of view and voices.