Family Partnerships of Central Florida

Now that Hurricane Milton has passed, we have assessed our offices and service centers in all four counties. Most received little to no damage, except for the administrative support center in Maitland, which sustained significant water damage due to roof repairs in progress. As a result, those offices are closed to our staff and the public until further notice. Any meetings taking place there (901 North Lake Destiny Road, Suite 400, Maitland) will be held virtually, moved to another location or postponed. Participants will be notified of any changes. Despite that office closure, operations in all four counties will fully resume Oct. 14. #familypartnershipsofcfl #hurricanemilton #ittakesavillage #communitysupport

Child welfare workers are part of a great, big family, all working toward one goal: helping kids find the loving, nurturing families they need and deserve. Being part of that family and its shared mission is #WHY Rick Ely says he’s committed to the part he plays: “Being part of a forever family should not be just a dream but a reality. Transforming dreams into reality requires active participation in a shared vision. Creating an environment where every child in need has the opportunity to feel safe, loved, supported and empowered is the vision. Together, as a family, we can and will make this vision a reality. When we come from the deepest place in our hearts we can't get it wrong. When we come from a place of love and passion, dreams become reality. I am thankful and grateful to be part of a family that shares a vision, actively participates, collaborates, and celebrates the children and families we serve. This is why I've chosen to be here at Brevard Family Partnership and Family Partnerships of Central Florida.” #ChildWelfareWorkerAppreciation #familypartnershipsofcfl #ittakesavillage

We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Florida Tech, which recently received the prestigious National Science Foundation EXLENT Award. This incredible initiative focuses on empowering foster youth by providing them with opportunities to explore STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) fields, opening doors to brighter futures and many opportunities. Through this collaboration, we aim to support foster youth in discovering their potential and gaining the skills they need for long-term success. We are so proud to be part of this amazing journey to inspire and equip the next generation of innovators and leaders. Thank you, Florida Tech, and congratulations on this well-deserved award! Together, we are creating brighter futures for our children in care. #FosterYouthSuccess #STEMOpportunities #BuildingBrighterFutures

Local weather experts say preparations for Hurricane Milton should be completed by this evening and that our worst impacts locally will be felt from late Wednesday evening into Thursday morning. Here’s a great county-by-county resource of what to expect and when: https://lnkd.in/eYjiFY5m #familypartnershipsofcfl #hurricanemilton #ittakesavillage #communitysupport

Office closure update: Here we go again! Florida is bracing for another storm. Hurricane Milton is churning in the Gulf as a potentially catastrophic category 5 hurricane that is expected to make landfall on the Gulf Coast Wednesday. Central Florida can expect strong winds and heavy rainfall as the storm nears the coast and crosses the state. As a result, our administrative offices and service centers will close at 5 p.m. Tuesday and remain closed Wednesday and Thursday, although staff will be operating remotely, conditions permitting in their areas. The agency’s emergency response team will be meeting daily to monitor conditions and provide any updates about further office closures. If you are a caregiver, please ensure you have contacted your case manager and shared your plans for evacuation and safety during the storm. We hope everyone stays safe and experiences few disruptions to their daily activities. We look forward to hearing that all is well with you, and especially our neighbors on the Gulf Coast, once the storm has passed. For storm updates, visit https://hurricanes.gov. (Tracking key: S: Tropical Storm – wind speed between 39 MPH and 73 MPH, H: Hurricane – wind speed between 74 MPH and 110 MPH, M: Major Hurricane – wind speed greater than 110 MPH) #familypartnershipsofcfl #hurricanemilton #ittakesavillage #communitysupport

As a former foster parent, Kristen Johnson’s experience with the child welfare system has been upfront and personal. But she’s also actively involved in her community. Those two factors are #WHY she’s “deeply committed to enhancing the lives of children and families.” “I’ve had the unique experience of witnessing firsthand the profound impact that a stable and nurturing environment can have on a child’s development and future success. By serving on the board, I am able to leverage my skills and experiences, both professionally and personally, to advocate for an amazing organization filled with professionals who make a difference every day. My goal is to contribute to a system that not only meets the immediate needs of children in foster care but promotes long-term resilience and wellbeing, ultimately fostering a stronger and more compassionate community.” #ChildWelfareWorkerAppreciation #familypartnershipsofcfl #ittakesavillage

Yesterday, Hunter Ballou and LaChrista Jones were invited to attend the 2024 Child Health Equity Symposium presented by the Ginsburg Institute at Nemours Children’s Health. Various professionals came together in a shared commitment to advancing youth well-being. They explored innovative strategies and techniques, with a focus on fostering thriving communities and thriving youth. Thank you for including Family Partnerships of Central Florida!   #Childrenadvocacy #Fosteringyouth #Strongcommunity #Nemours #GinsburgInstitute #ChildHealthEquity

If you’re considering becoming a foster parent and want to learn more about this life-changing role, we invite you to attend one of our upcoming virtual information sessions. We’ll share information about the foster care process, the characteristics of the children in need of foster parents, the types of foster homes needed in the community, what is expected of foster homes, and an overview of the application and assessment process. Once you register, you’ll receive an email containing information about joining the meeting. For interested families in Brevard County: 6 p.m., Oct. 8 (please register at https://rb.gy/jsxqbr) or Oct. 29 (please register at https://lnkd.in/ezivZJsa). Questions? Email Christina.Gagum@brevardfp.org. For interested families in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties: Oct 17 at 7 p.m. To participate, please register at https://lnkd.in/ed_MZ2XR. Questions? Email Jennifer.Kaleda@FPOCF.org. #foster #fosterteens #fosteringsaveslives #familypartnershipsofcfl

We’re still celebrating our staff and the work they do. And for Phil Scarpelli, Family Partnerships president and CEO, it’s all about relationships: “My ‘why’ has always been about establishing special relationships, whether it was guiding a child of trauma through a healing process, mentoring an aging-out youth with a dream, or inspiring a young social worker to make an impact that will change lives through generations. This journey and my ‘why’ have been inseparable!” #ChildWelfareWorkerAppreciation #familypartnershipsofcfl #ittakesavillage #Why

As we say goodbye to Hurricane Helene, we hope everyone is safe and has experienced few to no disruptions to their daily activities. At this time, FPOCF anticipates that our administrative offices and service centers will resume normal operations and operating hours on Monday, 09/30/24. If you are a caregiver, please ensure you have contacted your case manager and acknowledged that you are safe or need assistance. We look forward to hearing that all is well with you, and especially our neighbors in North Florida. #familypartnershipsofcfl #tropicalstormhelene #ittakesavillage #communitysupport