As The Children's Trust approaches its Silver Anniversary next year, marking nearly a quarter-century of service, its impact on Miami-Dade County has never been greater or more far-reaching. Created by voters in 2002, The Trust transforms local property taxes into lasting impact by investing in programs and services that help children and families thrive. From early childhood through young adulthood, those investments strengthen neighborhoods, improve opportunities, and create benefits that extend throughout the community.

The impact is visible in the lives of children and families, but it is also reflected in Miami-Dade's workforce, economy, schools, and overall quality of life. Through its mission to partner with the community to plan, advocate, and fund strategic investments that improve the lives of all children and families, The Trust has become one of the county's most important community assets. What began as a promise has become a lasting commitment to future generations because when we invest in the community, everybody wins.

Investing in Children Strengthens the Entire Community

The Children's Trust was created with a simple but powerful idea: local solutions can create lasting local impact. For nearly 25 years, voter-approved property tax dollars have supported programs that help children succeed while strengthening the community as a whole. Today, Trust-funded programs operate at more than 2,000 sites throughout Miami-Dade County, reaching children and families through early learning, after-school and summer programs, school health services, parenting supports, youth development opportunities, and family-centered services.

Those investments also generate significant economic activity. The Trust supported 4,100 jobs through its funding of community-based organizations in the last year and has contracted with 432 organizations to serve children and families since 2017. The economic impact goes beyond direct employment.

By helping families access high-quality child care, after-school programs, and summer learning opportunities, parents are better able to work, attend school, and contribute to the local economy. Last year, 99% of surveyed parents said Trust-supported after-school programs provided care that allowed them to work or continue their education.

These investments help build the workforce of tomorrow. Through programs like the Summer Youth Internship Program, thousands of students gain valuable workplace experience that prepares them for future careers. By investing in children and families today, The Trust helps ensure Miami-Dade has the skilled workforce it will need in the years ahead.

Building a Stronger Workforce: Today and Tomorrow

The impact starts with something parents know well: it is difficult to work when you don't have safe, affordable, high-quality care for your children. Through investments in early learning, The Trust helps families overcome that barrier while helping children learn and grow. Its Thrive by 5 initiative supports quality improvements and early learning providers, while Families Forward scholarships help families who earn too much to qualify for traditional assistance but still struggle to afford quality care.

In 2024-25, The Trust supported 32,376 young children through 361 high-quality early child care programs and helped more than 20,000 children receive developmental screenings, assessments, and early intervention services. These investments create stronger foundations for children while helping parents participate fully in the workforce.

Preparing Students for College and Careers

The Trust's impact also follows children as they grow. More than 47,000 children and teens participate annually in Trust-funded after-school, summer camp, and youth programs that provide literacy, STEM, arts enrichment, physical activity, academic support, and social-emotional learning opportunities.

For older students, that investment increasingly becomes about preparing for what comes next. In 2025, 3,661 students from 92 high schools completed paid summer internships with employers across Miami-Dade County, contributing 575,831 hours of work experience while gaining valuable professional skills. More than 20,000 young people have completed one or more internships since the program was established more than a decade ago.

These opportunities help students build confidence, explore career paths, and develop workplace skills while supporting broader college- and career-readiness efforts across the county. Since 2002, Miami-Dade's on-time high school graduation rate has increased 37%, reaching record levels and reflecting the long-term value of sustained investments in children and youth.

A Quarter-Century of Impact and What Comes Next

The numbers tell part of the story. In its first 20 years, more than 2.2 million children, parents, and caregivers engaged with Trust-funded programs and services. More than 5.6 million books have been provided to children since 2004, boosting early learning and literacy. Everyone knows that a healthy child has better chances of succeeding, and The Trust’s impact also extends to children's health. In 2024-25 alone, Trust-funded school health clinics provided 231,195 visits for 66,871 students, bringing health care closer to where children spend most of their day and helping remove barriers that can affect attendance, learning, and overall well-being.

But statistics tell only part of the story. Behind every number is a child, a family, and a success story. The past demonstrates what sustained community investment can accomplish. The present shows how deeply those investments are woven into the fabric of Miami-Dade County. The future may be the most important measure of all: children who are healthier, safer, better educated, and better prepared for college, careers, and life.

For nearly 25 years, The Children's Trust has transformed local property taxes into lasting impact, helping create a stronger community for today's families and future generations. Because when we invest in the community, everybody wins. Learn more at The Children's Trust "Our Impact" page.