BFP E-NEWS
January 2018
Message from Interim CEO, Jim Carlson
On January 15, our nation celebrated the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Through his vision, advocacy, leadership, and sacrifice, Dr. King was a renewer of society. It is fitting that we celebrate his work, and his message.

Each of us through the work we do, have an opportunity to help renew our society. By Protecting Children, we are reducing the incidence of trauma experienced by children in our community. By Strengthening Families, we are providing tools to parents and children to better cope with stress and crisis situations. By Changing Lives, we are imparting hope and setting families on a new course.

In December, Brevard Family Partnership hosted our Family of Agencies Holiday Gift Drive. This year, over 35 new donors were added and the total value of donated gifts exceeded $97,000. We are grateful for the generosity of the Brevard community and in particular, our donors listed below in the newsletter.

In 2018, I encourage everyone to join us in our efforts to make a difference in Brevard County. I invite you to visit our "Make a Difference" page at http://brevardfp.org/make-a-difference/ for ideas and opportunities.

Happy New Year and thank you for your support.
Happy New Year!
We want to wish you and your family a very happy and healthy New Year!

Thank you to everyone who made 2017 so wonderful; we look forward to all  that 2018 will bring! We hope that your year will be filled with lots of love, laughter & growth. 
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month 
Phebe Powell, the Executive Director of Brevard C.A.R.E.S. shares below about the importance of raising awareness for human trafficking. 

Human Trafficking happens in almost every country around the world, and is increasingly common across the United States. The National Human Trafficking Hotline ranks Florida third in the nation for the crime. Traffickers are not only men; women are also perpetrators. Increasingly, traffickers are using fear tactics to lure children and youth into commercial sex acts and/or compelled labor. 

Young people, especially those with risk factors, are vulnerable to human trafficking. The Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued new guidance on child trafficking to child welfare systems and runaway and homeless youth programs because of increased vulnerability to trafficking for youth who have experienced prior abuse or who have run away from home.

In 2016, Florida received a 54% increase from 2015 in the number of human trafficking cases involving children. The I-95 Corridor serves as a major artery for human trafficking to and from south and central Florida placing the children of Brevard along the path of trafficking predators. To better serve this growing service population, Brevard C.A.R.E.S. is an active member of the Space Coast Human Trafficking Task Force and has identified Care Coordinators in each unit with specialized human trafficking training. These Care Coordinators are required to complete quarterly Human Trafficking specific training annually.

BFP 2017 Employee Recognition
Congratulations to Patrice Grier for being recognized as the 2017 recipient of the 'Linda Marshall Leading Light Award'.

The award is given annually to a BFP employee who adheres to the organization's mission and vision, values, and principles of practice, possesses strong leadership qualities, has a collaborative spirit and represents the agency in a positive manner.
 
Also, congratulations to Christine Williams-Kelly for being recognized as the recipient of the 'Peer Recognition Award'!  
 
The award is given to a BFP employee who is a collaborative team player, demonstrates innovative and creative abilities in their work, exudes a positive attitude and goes above and beyond.
Help Us Give
Protecting children and strengthening families is the responsibility of every member of the community. While not everyone can be a foster parent, we can all contribute in some way to help a child or family in need.        
Ready to Make a Difference In the Life of a Child?
 
For additional information, please contact us at
321.752.4650 x3031 or foster@brevardfp.org. 
Brevard C.A.R.E.S. FY 2016-17 Employee Recognition

Congratulations to the Brevard C.A.R.E.S.
Employee of the Year 
Marina  Lozano
  Marina serves as our Head Start Care Coordinator. She was recognized for her exemplary dedication and commitment. Mariana thank you for the difference that you are making in the  lives of the children of Brevard.

Congratulations to La Shica Kelly, Brevard C.A.R.E.S.
Outstanding Service & Dedication Award
LaShica Kelly went above and beyond by providing support for Non Judicial In Home Services (NJIHS) by carrying a caseload while also maintaining her duties as a Family Engagement Specialist in Palm Bay .
 
Volunteer Service Awards
Congratulations to Brevard C.A.R.E.S. team members, Jose Hernandez, Diversion Care Coordinator and Debra Bragg-Caron, Family Advocate Specialist, for being recognized with our Volunteer Service Award.   Jose and Debra received recognition for their monthly volunteer efforts, in particular, their support for post-adoption support meetings. Thank you both for your outstanding contributions and dedication to our children and families.
Family Allies Celebrates Its Half-Birthday
Family Allies Case Manager Graduating Class

December was a big month for Family Allies as they celebrated six months of case management operations under local control in Brevard and held a graduation ceremony for their second training class, welcoming 11 new Case Managers to the Family Allies team. 

In a short time period, Family Allies has accomplished historic milestones in achieving permanency for children in out-of-home care; over 52% of children who entered out-of-home care between July-December 2016 successfully achieved permanency within 12 months (reunification, adoption, permanent guardianship). 

During this same time period, the Brevard County System of Care has experienced a 24% increase in children entering out-of-home care compared to the same time period a year ago. Congratulations to the Family Allies Case Managers, Supervisors, Family Support Workers, and Administrative Support staff for achieving permanency for children!
Adoption
We all know that children are special... but adopted children are chosen! Adoption is  permanence for a child; it means the child has a 'forever' family who will be there for them through the good times and the challenges.

The decision to adopt is one that should never be made in haste or based solely on emotion. Becoming a parent through adoption is time consuming, but it's worth the effort.  Give a child the love and security that he or she truly deserves, and make your house a home to an extraordinary child!

Some Things To Consider When Deciding To Adopt A Child:
  • Why do I want to adopt a child?
  • Can I provide a stable home for a child?
  • Am I ready to open my heart to another's needs?
  • Is this child just a substitute for a lost child, or a person in his/her own right?
  • Am I willing to go through the paperwork and various other requirements to have a child?
  • How will I handle friends' and family's questions and comments about adoption?
  • Can I love this child as my own?
  • How will I deal with my child's questions about his or her birth parents?
  • When will I tell my child about adoption?
  • Can I afford to take another person into my family?
Traits Of Successful Adoptive Families:
  • A true acceptance of the child's differences.
  • The ability to measure success in small steps.
  • A firm belief in commitment.
If you are interested in learning more about providing a "forever home" for a child in the foster care system, please call us at (321) 752-4650 or visit our website and Heart Gallery to learn about children who are currently waiting for their forever home.
Foster Parent Recruitment 
Each year, hundreds of children in Brevard County are removed from their homes due to abuse, abandonment, or neglect. These children need a temporary place to call home while their family situation is stabilized.

Brevard Family Partnership manages foster care services for youth who have been removed from their homes. We are always looking for individuals who are willing to open up their hearts and homes to a child in foster care.  The children represent all races and ethnicity and range in age from birth to 17. Their personalities are as different as the grains of sand on the beach and each as beautiful!
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent,  click here for answers to some basic questions. 

Call Brevard Family Partnership at 321-752-4650 for more information or to sign up for an informational session.

 Upcoming Foster Parent Informational Sessions
February 13, 2018  
6pm-7:30pm
BFP Central Care Center
4050 Riomar Drive, Suite 120, Rockledge ,  FL  32955
 
February 21, 2018 
 2pm-3:30pm
    4220 South Hopkins Ave, Titusville, FL 32780  
   
Click Here for a complete list of session dates
Holiday Gift Drive Thank You
Every year, the Brevard Family Partnership Family of Agencies joins our local partners to ensure every child in our care has a merry and bright holiday season. It is only with the community's support that we are able to provide gifts for these children. This year, with the help of our generous donors, we were able to provide gifts to over 1,300 children in foster care and families in crisis within our local community!
 
The 2017 holiday gift drive was made possible by generous donations from the community sponsors below. We are extremely grateful for your support and generosity! Thank you!

Employee Spotlight
As our Family of Agencies continue to grow and expand, we would like to introduce you to some our amazing team members.  Each month, we will be highlighting one of our employees serving on the 2017-2018 Leadership Team. This month we will be highlighting Monica Martin who is the current leadership team secretary.

Which Agency do you work for?
Brevard Family Partnership
How long have you worked for the above agency?
  2.5 years
What is your current title?  
Foster Parent Navigator
Briefly in 2-3 sentences explain what you do in your current role:  
In my current role as the Foster Parent Navigator, I assist and support the foster parents through navigating the Child Welfare System, answering their questions and an added layer of support to the foster parents for the children in their home. I attend all monthly foster parent support groups and maintain the monthly paperwork to ensure the children's files are always in compliance. In addition, the foster parents know they can always count on me when needed!
Have you ever been in any other role within the agency? 
No
What is your favorite thing about working here?
My favorite thing about working at BFP as a Foster Parent Navigator is working with all our amazing foster parents. I love hearing their success stories and being their support when needed. In addition, I enjoy laughing and working with my co-workers.
What do you like to do in your spare time? 
In my spare time I enjoy spending time at the basketball courts, baseball fields and any other activities my son is involved in. I enjoy spending time with my amazing husband as well.
Who or What inspires you? Why? 
My Grandmother, she is truly an inspiration to me.  She always has supported me in anything that I have done in life.   She is 89 years old and is still as witty as if she was in her 20's.  She wrote a book and had it published about her life. She is very tech savvy, we Face Time about once a month and text about once a week.  
If you were a color crayon what color would you be? Why? 
If I were a color crayon I'd be the color pink. I choose pink because pink is the color most often associated with charm, politeness, sensitivity, tenderness, and sweetness.
Brevard Family Partnership
2301 W. Eau  Gallie Blvd., Suite 104
Melbourne, FL 32935
321.752.4650 
Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter   View our videos on YouTube