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Thank you for making a difference in the lives of over 30,000 of Brevard's children and families involved in the child welfare System of Care over the past decade. Together we have touched and transformed many lives.
When I think of a community that truly cares for its own, I am proud to say Brevard County is at the top of the list. We are fortunate to live in a place where residents come together often to serve, support, and strengthen the children, youth, individuals, and families who live among us.
It takes amazing, dedicated philanthropic volunteers willing to sacrifice and give of their time, treasure, and talent to make a collective impact. I am thankful that Brevard's citizens give endlessly to ensure our families, friends, neighbors, students, parishioners, and those less fortunate among us, experience the hope and healing available to them in Brevard County.
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National Make a Difference to Children Month
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In honor of National Make a Difference to Children month, we would like to recognize those among us who go above and beyond each and every day to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Brevard's children.
We would like to thank the following child advocates in our community who tirelessly invest in our children and families: Brevard Family Partnership staff, providers, Board members, donors, and volunteers, our local legislators, and Brevard C.A.R.E.S. and Family Allies leadership, staff, Board members, and supporters.
Thank you for being an integral part of Brevard's System of Care. We appreciate your contributions to improving the quality of life for the children in our community.
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 There are many ways that you can make a difference in the lives of the children and families that we serve.
Volunteers Make a Big Difference
Offering your valuable time and talents can help change lives. We and our community partners have several opportunities for volunteers that include working with children and families, supporting special events, and providing office and clerical help.
Provide In-Kind Donations of Products or Services
Sometimes, it's the little things that can make a big difference in a child or family's life. An oil change. Automobile or appliance repair. A haircut and new outfit for a child heading back to school or parent interviewing for a new job. Any of these can be a positive game-changer for a family in need.
Learn More About Your Community Based System of Care! You can also invite a staff member from BFP to speak to the employees of your business or the members of your organization, association, or congregation.
Support BFP Through Your Generous Financial Contributions
Through your tax-deductible financial gift , BFP can continue to provide the support and services that help so many children and families. Your contribution stays right here in our community, helping Brevard's children and families.
For additional information on how you can help, please contact Melissa Breckenridge, Public Relations Manager at 321-752-4650 Ext. 3047 or melissa.breckenridge@brevardfp.org.
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Help Us Give: Become a Foster Friend
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 As part of our Help Us Give (H.U.G.) Campaign, we would like to share with you ways that you can
Help Us Give children in foster care a brighter future, even if you are not able to be a foster parent yourself.
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.
Help us give children in foster care a brighter future.
Become a Foster Friend.
Here are some ways that you can help support foster families and children:
- Provide complimentary haircuts, dental care, clothing or transportation
- Donate services based on your business: construction, home furnishings, family dinners at restaurants, mechanic services
- Offer scholarships or free lessons for summer camp, sports teams, dance, art or music
- Provide jobs for older youth
- Mentor a child
- Provide respite care
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Cook a meal
Foster a Future.
Ready to make a difference in the life of a child?
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Reunification Celebration
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The Honorable Kelly McKibben and the 18th Judicial Circuit, Brevard Family Partnership, Guardian ad Litem Program, and IMPOWER hosted a
Reunification Celebration on June 2, 2017 to celebrate and recognize the families in our community who have successfully overcome the challenges in their lives to be reunited with their children.
The celebration featured special guest speakers, success stories from families, refreshments, and family fun entertainment. Special guest speakers included Joe Cohen, Football coach and former University of Florida Gator football player, Bill D'Aiuto, Department of Children and Families, and Brevard County Commissioner Kristine Isnardi.
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Back to School Donations Needed
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Brevard Family Partnership has over 300 school-aged children in our care who are in need of school supplies. You can help give local children the confidence they need to succeed in school by donating school supplies. It's a great way to give back to your community.
For most kids, the start of a school year is an exciting time, filled with new supplies and hope for success. Together we can help our children in care enjoy the same experience!
Donations of backpacks, paper, pens, crayons, pencils, rulers, calculators, dictionaries and more can be dropped off at the following locations Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm.
Drop-Off Locations:
BFP - Main Office
2301 W. Eau Gallie, Suite 104, Melbourne, FL
BFP - South Care Center
1591 Robert J. Conlan, Palm Bay, FL
BFP - Central Care Center
4050 Rio Mar Drive, Rockledge, FL
The deadline to drop off supplies is August 3, 2017.
To schedule a donation drop off or learn additional information, please contact Monica Martin at 321-752-4650 ext. 3026 or
Monica.Martin@brevardfp.org.
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 Please consider supporting Brevard Family Partnership through Macy's Charity Challenge! Your financial gift will help meet present needs and opportunities for those we serve and allow us to continue to provide the support and services that help so many children and families. Your donation will help Brevard's vulnerable children and families become stronger; right here and right now.
Participants who donate at least $5 or more will receive an exclusive Macy's Shop for a Cause savings pass! Donations can be made
online here. Thank you for your support!
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The Honorable Kelly McKibben presided over a Celebration of Adoption ceremony on June 16, 2017, where we celebrated
21 children joining their forever families.
During the celebration, we were delighted to present Judge Kelly McKibben with a token of appreciation in recognition of the 209 children who found their forever homes during her tenure as Dependency Judge. Thank you Judge McKibben for your commitment to the children and families in our community!
On a related note, we are pleased to welcome Judge Crawford back to the bench as Dependency Judge! We look forward to working with you.
It was a very successful fiscal year 2016-2017, as Brevard Family Partnership, in conjunction with our partner agency, has exceeded the established goal for child adoptions finalized. The agency's adoption goal was 67 adoptions and was exceeded with a total 98 adoptions finalized between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017. The adoption team has identified unique ways to help find permanency for the youth, including child-specific recruitment events, mentor families for older youth, participating in permanency round tables, and locating biological families that had previously lost their rights and engaging them to allow for potential placement as a non-relative.
In total, BFP has joined over 800 "forever families" since inception, giving youth whose parents could no longer care for them, the safety and stability of a permanent and lasting family connection.
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Training Corner - BFP Training Opportunities
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 Non-Abusive Psychological and Physical Intervention (NAPPI)
NAPPI Traini
ng is being rolled out as a required training for all foster parents. Relative /Non-Relative caregivers and group home staff are invited to attend as well.
NAPPI training is intended to provide skills to caregivers for managing difficult behaviors. This training will teach Psychological i.e. verbal behavior management techniques.
Learn More»
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Champions for Brevard's Children
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 Brevard Family Partnership will be featuring the "Champions for Brevard's Children" section in each newsletter, highlighting our providers and community partners, and the amazing work they are doing in the community for our children.
In this issue, we are pleased to feature Dr. Mari Bennett, Licensed Psychologist and Director of the Family Learning Program. She was recently selected as an expert member of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) Child Maltreatment Reporting Laws policy analysis committee.
Dr. Bennett's ongoing experience within child welfare includes active collaboration with child welfare community partners, service provision, and education through private practice with clinical specialization in child and family evaluations and treatment specific to child maltreatment; expert consultation; Director of the Family Learning Program, including the Sexual Abuse Treatment Program and Dependency Evaluation Team; and Assistant Professor teaching the Introduction to Child Advocacy and Critical Issues in Child Advocacy courses as two of the three required courses within the Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) Certificate.
Established at the Florida Institute of Technology in 1991, the Family Learning Program has provided evidence-based sexual abuse treatment for children and adolescents, their siblings, and their caregivers for 25 years. The Family Learning Program is dedicated to providing best practice psychological services to improve the lives of children, adolescents and families who have experienced neglect and/or abuse. They provide no-cost individual, group and family therapy for Brevard families affected by child sexual abuse.
Learn more about Family Learning Program
here.
Congratulations on your achievement Dr. Bennett! We appreciate your dedication to our vulnerable children, youth, and families.
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These generous donors participated in Together We Rise's sweet case program , which helps provide suitcases to children in foster care. Many children going from home to home have nothing but a trash bag to carry their belongings. We appreciate your support!
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