WeCare began as a community-organizing model developed by public school and law enforcement leaders in the mid-1980's. Of the seven chapters initiated countywide, the Homestead/Florida City Chapter is the only one still active. It was designed to bring together representatives from local social service agencies in an effort to network and share information.

Today, WeCare has more than 100 active members that include social service providers, educators, businesses, ministers, and residents. Our members represent every aspect of human service - health, education, emergency shelter and assistance, childhood development, entrepreneur training, domestic abuse, farm worker aid and assistance, elder care, and many more. Our members enjoy great networking, receive information on grants and other funding sources, technical training, a copy of the South Dade Social Services Directory, and a monthly newsletter about community happenings, opportunities and activities. Our members also appreciate free marketing of agency events, activities and needs and benefit from long-term partnerships with other members. And there is no fee to join WeCare.

WeCare aims to engage broad sectors of the community to increase the availability and quality of services to the area; identify and advocate ways to improve/maintain equitability of services; promote communication between groups; and disseminate information that will benefit the community.

Their programs include:

• South Dade Out-of-School Collaborative made up of eight local agencies to provide quality out-of-school activities for children and youth

• Drug-Free Communities Coalition, a collaboration of several local agencies and organizations that provides drug prevention and intervention strategies to children, youth and parents in Homestead/Florida City

• Mental Health Action Team, a group of service providers, educators, counselors, residents, and mental healthcare providers that collaboratively identify the mental health needs in Homestead/Florida City, develop strategies to address those needs and begin implementing the plans. We are currently advocating for better access to rape treatment and follow-up services for survivors of sexual assault in deep South Dade

• Homestead Energy Lend-A-Hand Program (HELP), a temporary program designed to assist residents who are facing a crisis to avoid disconnection of Homestead utilities.
 
Additionally, our office offers information and referral services for individuals seeking services and/or assistance in South Dade. This service is available Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Tuesday and
Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday morning, 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon.