- Mission
- Philosophy
- Goals
- History
Recognizing that the entire LGBTQ community has the right to quality care, our mission is to provide critical life assistance and professional mental health services with an emphasis on economically disadvantaged, marginalized youth, adults and seniors in the greater South Florida metropolitan area.
We are advocates for strong inclusive families and healthy relationships in all their diverse forms within and across the generations as well as professional volunteer agents for development and change. We are committed to provide quality affordable counseling, psychotherapy, education, and outreach to all regardless of their ability to pay.
We assert that:
Families in all their diverse forms and relationships are to be honored and strengthened by inclusive education and outreach programs. All families and individuals who suffer from emotional, psychological, addictive, or relationship problems deserve quality care. The most effective treatment of psychological and relationship issues and concerns is one that utilizes all resources: physical, social, emotional, intellectual, communal, relational and spiritual. Each of us has a considerable reserve of personal resources that counseling and therapy can help us tap into. All deserve the best compassionate care from one another when our resources feel depleted or difficult to access; this often occurs when we are unduly stressed or experiencing pain or loss. We are dedicated to providing that care regardless of the client's income level.
To be a model social service agency, serving the LGBTQ community with compassionate and progressive care that understands and respects the individuality of each client, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identification. To provide services of the highest quality for all clients served, especially those in financial need, minorities, youth, seniors, people of differing ability, and those with life-challenging physical, behavioral and emotional conditions. To help build a stronger, healthier community one person at a time, reaching beyond race, ageism, ethnic differences, sexual orientation and socio-economic classes. To meet the unique needs of the South Florida LGBTQ community through collaborative partnerships with individuals and agencies from the greater South Florida area.
SunServe History
Founded in 2002 as the first agency providing for the social service needs of the LGBTQ community of South Florida, Sunshine Social Services, Inc. (SunServe) has been advocates, allies and champions for economically disadvantaged and marginalized youth, families, adults and seniors. Located in the heart of Wilton Manors, the second-highest per capita LGBTQ population in the United States, SunServe was created by a team of dedicated community volunteers who wanted to provide vital quality care to high-risk and vulnerable members of the LGBTQ community.
SunServe's first enterprise was The Noble A. McArtor Senior Day Care Center, the first Senior Day Care Center designed to meet the needs of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. The Noble A. McArtor Senior Day Care Center, housed at Sunshine Cathedral, is now home away from home to more than 30 seniors who enjoy a healthy lunch and a host of activities throughout the week, allowing their caregivers and families some much-needed respite.
Under the experienced leadership of SunServe's founder, Dr. James Lopresti, the agency formed the Counseling Program in 2003. With a shoestring budget and a collective team of 40 community therapists, this program has grown into a full range of out-patient mental health services including individual, couples, family, youth, and group therapy.
SunServe began hosting a youth group for LGBTQ youth in 2004 that has blossomed into the agency's largest department catering to the needs of hundreds of youth throughout the county. In 2013, SunServe opened the HIV/AIDS Housing Case Management (HOPWA) program and Project AIDS Care Medicaid Waiver program. In 2014, SunServe opened the Transgender Services Department linking all clients to culturally relevant medical care and critical assistance, and in 2015, SunServe began the Senior Care Management program offering in-home case management to LGBTQ seniors. In 2017, SunServe launched a Women’s Services Department to improve the well-being of all LBT women through dedicated health and wellness services, connection to community resources, social engagement, and networking.
On a weekly basis, SunServe helps hundreds of community members and is devoted to remaining a pioneer and innovator in proactively developing cutting edge programs to improve the health, well-being and quality of life of community members.
For complete information on our various programs, click here.