Family Partnerships of Central Florida (formerly Embrace Families & Brevard Family Partnership)

University of Central Florida’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities is offering a Drowning Prevention and Autism webinar tomorrow (Thursday, Aug. 22), 6:30-8 p.m. If you or someone you know would benefit from this valuable session, please share the invite and RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/e25AYmSp  #foster #fosteringsaveslives #familypartnershipsofcfl #ittakesavillage #communitysupport

Volunteers were in the house! Employees from Closet Factory Orlando joined Comfort Cases founder Rob Scheer to unpack and prep 250 backpacks filled with hygiene products and new pajamas for foster kids in Brevard, Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties. Closet Factory donated the backpacks and luggage tags for each, and Comfort Cases donated the supplies that go inside. News 6 was with us to share Rob’s story as a child who experienced foster care and why he founded Comfort Cases: https://lnkd.in/e-KgcqvP. Thanks, Closet Factory and Comfort Cases, for caring for our kids! #foster #fosteringsaveslives #familypartnershipsofcfl #ittakesavillage #communitysupport

Special thanks to members of the Central Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce for inviting us to have a table at their relationship building meeting yesterday and to Foster Youth of America for covering the cost of us being the day’s dessert sponsor. It was great spending time with existing partners and getting the chance to meet future ones. #foster #fosteringsaveslives #familypartnershipsofcfl #ittakesavillage #communitysupport

During our recent back-to-school bash at Suntree United Methodist Church, we were able to give 186 kids in our care in Brevard County a great head start preparing for their first day of school. Thank you to the many generous donors who shopped through our Amazon wish list and donated funds to help us buy backpacks and school supplies, including Eckerd Connects, Leonardo DRS Palm Bay, Sunshine Health, Amwins Insurance Brokerage, MOMS Club, Elevation Church Melbourne, Eau Gallie Rotary Club and Insperity PEO Services. Special thanks also to our community providers and volunteers who helped make the day such a success. #backtoschool #foster #fosterteens #fosteringsaveslives #familypartnershipsofcfl #ittakesavillage

Today, we give a shout out to Trick Shots in Winter Park. The team there recently held a special Christmas in July event to collect donations for our upcoming Holiday Magic campaign and school supplies to help our kids be ready for the new school year. Thanks to Trick Shots and many other generous partners, our kids know their community cares for them. #familypartnershipsofcfl #ittakesavillage #communitysupport #backtoschool #foster #fosterteens #fosteringsaveslives

During our back-to-school giveaway days Thursday and Friday at our East Orange service center, we were able to give 144 kids in our care a great head start on preparing for their first day of school Aug. 12. Thank you to the many generous donors who shopped through our Amazon wish list and donated funds to help us buy backpacks and school supplies. Special thanks also staff members Shelly Rose, Lisa Walters and Diane Greene, who took time from their busy schedules to help the kids and parents select their supplies and make the days a success. It takes a village! #backtoschool #foster #fosterteens #fosteringsaveslives #familypartnershipsofcfl

Tropical Storm Debby is currently tracking west of Florida and expected to make landfall in the Big Bend area. Although Central Florida may at times experience heavy rain and winds, our administrative offices and service centers will be operating as usual during normal business hours Monday. We are continuing to monitor the storm, however, and if conditions change, we will notify all team members and partners. We hope everyone stays safe and experiences few to no disruption to their daily activities. We look forward to hearing that all is well for you, and especially our neighbors in the Big Bend community, once the storm has passed. For storm updates, visit hurricanes.gov. #familypartnershipsofcfl #tropicalstormdebby #ittakesavillage #communitysupport

We are so thankful for our community partners, like Elevation Church Orlando, who help care for the children we serve. They invited our kids to a Princess Spa Day Friday, featuring a special guest appearance by Frozen’s Elsa and Ana. It was a magical night they’ll be sure to remember. #familypartnershipsofcfl #fosteringsaveslives #ItTakesAVillage #communitysupport

We kicked off our back-to-school giveaway days yesterday at our Osceola County service center. Caregivers were able to pick up backpacks and all kinds of school supplies for the kids they’ve welcomed into their hearts and homes. A total of 140 kids are now ready for their first day of school. Thanks to everyone who donated supplies to make this first day such a success. We’re especially thankful for Osceola Council on Aging, which donated 48 backpacks already filled with supplies. And thanks to staff members and partners Kenia Sanchez (and her son Ethan), Karen Grant and Rebecca Quiles, who took time from their busy day to help families select their supplies and feel welcome. #backtoschool #foster #fosterteens #fosteringsaveslives #familypartnershipsofcfl

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. #foster #fosterteens #fosteringsaveslives #familypartnershipsofcfl For interested families in Brevard County: Aug. 13 and 27 at 6 p.m. To participate, please register at https://lnkd.in/ezhim_AN. Questions? Email Christina Gagum at [email protected].   For interested families in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties: Aug. 1 and 15 at 7 p.m. To participate, please register at https://lnkd.in/ey4e9_A6. Questions? Email Jennifer Kaleda at [email protected].