Brevard Lead Child Welfare Agency Celebrates 10 Years of Protecting Children, Strengthening Families, Changing Lives
MELBOURNE, FL – February 7, 2015 – For the past ten years, Brevard Family Partnership and its many community partners have led the way in reducing the incidences of child abuse and neglect in Brevard. On Saturday night, February 7, at Heritage Isle Clubhouse in Viera, over 200 friends of Brevard Family Partnership came together to kick off this milestone and celebrate “A Decade of Difference”.
The night was hosted Brevard Family Partnership staff and board members, and led by Master of Ceremonies Sheriff Wayne Ivey, who welcomed guests and dignitaries, including a representative from Congressman Posey’s office, Andy Zeigler from the Brevard County School Board, and other business leaders and elected officials. Sheriff Ivey highlighted the many accomplishments Brevard Family Partnership has achieved over the past 10 years and former foster youth along with foster and adoptive parents shared their stories of success and inspiration. Guests were invited to make a donation to support the Brevard Family Partnership Endowment through the Community Foundation for Brevard. By the end of the night, over $10,000 was raised through the generous donations of attendees and sponsors. These funds will serve to support child abuse prevention and family preservation programs and services for years to come.
In 10 years, Brevard Family Partnership and its nationally recognized child and family Wraparound organization Brevard C.A.R.E.S. has helped to reduce the number of children in the formal child welfare system of care, from a high of over 1,500 children in 2005, to less than 900 today. And by reaching families in crisis, and getting them critical services before stressors can lead to issues of child well-being and safety, Brevard Family Partnership has kept over 13,000 children and their families from ever entering the dependency system. For those children permanently removed from their parents’ care due to abuse or neglect, adoption partner IMPOWER helps find adoptive families. To date, over 680 children have found permanency in “forever homes.”
Highlighting 2015 as the year to celebrate making “A Decade of Difference” for children and families, Brevard Family Partnership invites business and community leaders, children’s champions, donors and benefactors to join in and help celebrate their many accomplishments and milestones and raise awareness of what a community must continue to do to help keep children safe. Throughout 2015, Brevard Family Partnership will be hosting several signature events to celebrate 10 years of serving Brevard’s children and families. These include:
- Space Coast Stadium – Brevard Family Partnership Night Saturday, May 2, 2015 Join Brevard Family Partnership for a game night at the Space Coast Stadium! This event will honor and celebrate foster and adoptive families, case management and social service professionals, community volunteers, donors, and partners. Tickets will be available, proceeds benefit Brevard Family Partnership. Sponsor opportunities available.
- Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place – Decade of Difference Gala Saturday, October 24, 2015 This one-of-a-kind night will celebrate making a Decade of Difference in Brevard! Highlighting the “decades” theme, participants are welcome to dress as their favorite icon from decades past. Tickets and sponsor opportunities will be available.
- Church at Viera – 10th Annual Walk and Run for Love 5K/10K Saturday, November 21, 2015 The 10th Annual Walk and Run for Love will be here before you know it! This year a special 10K distance will be added in recognition of TEN years of serving children and families in Brevard. Team fundraising and sponsor opportunities available.
For more information on these upcoming events or to make a donation, please call Brevard Family Partnership at (321) 752-4650 or visit www.brevardfp.org.
To view photos from this event, visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BrevardFamilyPartnership
About Brevard Family Partnership
Established in 2004 by a Legislative mandate to privatize foster care and related services in Florida (Section 409.1617, Florida Statutes), Brevard Family Partnership is Brevard County’s lead child welfare agency. Working in partnership with over 70 community organizations, its mission is to protect children, strengthen families and change lives through the prevention of child abuse and the operation and management of a comprehensive, integrated, community-based system of care for abused, abandoned and neglected children, and their families.
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Contact
Stephanie Strodtman
Public Relations Coordinator
Brevard Family Partnership / Brevard CARES
2301 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Ste. 104
Melbourne, FL 32935
Office: 321-752-4650
Cell: 813-957-8648 (preferred)
