Early childhood education can counteract the disadvantage some children experience, improve their social and cognitive development, and provide them with an equal opportunity to achieve school readiness, and lifelong employment, income, and health. In Indian River County, 45% of children are kindergarten ready which is lower...

In Indian River County, 32% of seniors fall into the ALICE population and 6% of seniors live below the poverty line. ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the basic cost of living for the...

According to the CDC, 16.9% of adults in Indian River County have diagnosed depression. Furthermore, 22 to 24 year old's have the highest rate of mood or depressive disorder among adults.  The Mental Health Collaborative's mission is to establish a continuum of mental health care, increase...

Indian River County's rate of hospitalizations for mood and depressive disorders among youth under age 18 is over twice the state average. According to the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, 40.2% of male students and 51.5% of female students in Indian River felt depressed or...

In partnership with Vero Beach Magazine, Indian River Community Foundation’s President and CEO, Jeff Pickering, writes a monthly column called Indian River Insights. These articles explore the root causes of community needs, celebrate successes, analyze meaningful solutions, and offer insights into persistent challenges. In the May...

According to the Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council Point in Time Homeless Count (PIT), 225 adults and 65 children were identified as homeless on January 31, 2022 in Indian River County. An additional 224 households were sharing housing or "couch surfing." The Samaritan Center is...

In partnership with Vero Beach Magazine, Indian River Community Foundation’s President and CEO, Jeff Pickering, writes a monthly column called Indian River Insights. These articles explore the root causes of community needs, celebrate successes, analyze meaningful solutions, and offer insights into persistent challenges. In the April...

Approximately 15.9% of people in Indian River County live independently with a disability, and over half of those individuals experience ambulatory difficulty. The Indian River County Volunteer Ambulance Squad provides free non-emergency transportation for ambulatory and wheelchair passengers from their places of residence to and...

In 2022, 94.6% of students graduated high school in Indian River County, a slight decline from the 2021 graduation rate of 95%. Organizations like the Boy & Girls Clubs of Indian River County work daily to ensure that all youth who enter their doors are...

In partnership with Vero Beach Magazine, Indian River Community Foundation’s President and CEO, Jeff Pickering, writes a monthly column called Indian River Insights. These articles explore the root causes of community needs, celebrate successes, analyze meaningful solutions, and offer insights into persistent challenges. In the March...