Dear Friends,

I am pleased to announce that BFP has forged a partnership with the Center for the Study of Social Policy to become a Youth Thrive pilot site (http://www.cssp.org/reform/child-welfare/youth-thrive). The CSSP is a leading national organization that works with policymakers and communities across the country to improve the lives of the most vulnerable children and families.

We will be integrating the Center's cutting-edge Youth Thrive framework with our Trauma Informed Care - Positive Youth Development program, a recently developed, cross-system initiative designed to ensure foster youth exiting Brevard's system of care are afforded every opportunity to succeed as young adults.

   

Register today for the second annual Run for Love 5K!

The second annual Run for Love 5K will once again be
a part of the 8th annual Walk for Love, coming to the Church at Viera on November 16! The theme of the Run for Love is "have a heart for adoption" and all participants are encouraged to wear a heart themed t-shirt or costume. There will be prizes best attire and most creative costume!

The Walk for Love will immediately follow the run, and everyone is invited to attend (including your four-legged friends!). There is no cost to attend the walk.

You don't want to miss out on these fun, family-friendly events that celebrate forever families during National Adoption Month.

Click here to learn more and register >>>

On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott named Brevard Family Partnership Vice Board Chair, Judge Kelly Jo McKibben, who served in the Department of Children and Families and as a Brevard County judge since 2006, to the 18th Judicial Circuit Court.

Read more >>>

BFP Board Members Brooke Deratany-Goldfarb and Eric Smith accept the donation.

A special thank you to the Melbourne Beach Rotary for their generous donation of $2500 to Brevard Family Partnership! We are grateful for their incredible support of the mission and vision of BFP. THANK YOU! 

When Vicki Erickson joined Devereux Florida's foster parent program seven years ago, it was simply to provide respite care for her sister's foster children. At the time, she never imagined becoming a full-time foster parent herself. But when she and her husband Terry spent time with the children and young adults under their care, they found themselves unexpectedly hooked on the experience.

"We realized how much we enjoyed helping kids and providing them with a safe, nurturing home," Vicki says. "Though they all had unique situations and challenges, we were able to help each of them grow in ability and independence. It felt so good to see the positive difference we were making."

Continue reading >>>

The Quality Parenting Initiative invites you to a Florida QPI Just in Time Training on:

 Talking Trauma: When Kids Talk about their Traumatic Experiences
  
Thursday, September 19, 2013 
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM  (Eastern)  
Presented by: Marisol H. Tobey 

Please click here to register for this training.

This presentation will offer some guidelines on how to communicate with children who may have a history of traumatic experiences, as well as their siblings or other children in the home.  Concrete examples of helpful responses will be presented as well as general overview of the trauma response to provide insight into the 'why' behind the behaviors.