Brevard Family Partnership’s Senior Director of Programs, Ashley Carraro, Recognized as ‘Social Worker of the Year’ at the Florida Coalition for Children’s Annual Conference

Ashley Carraro FCC Award 2MELBOURNE, FL – July 13, 2016 –Brevard Family Partnership’s Senior Director of Programs, Ashley Carraro, was named ‘Social Worker of the Year’ at the Florida Coalition for Children’s Annual Conference. The award recognizes the significant contributions made by a social worker who strives each day by their work to change the conditions of the world and improve the lives of “the least among us”.

Ashley has worked with Brevard Family Partnership (BFP), Brevard County’s lead agency for child welfare, since 2006. In her current role, she provides leadership over Intake and Placement, Clinical Services, Licensing and Care Coordination. Ashley began her career in child welfare in 1996 doing clinical outreach with low income students.

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Ashley holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Central Florida and Master of Social Work from Florida State University.

Over the last three years, Ashley has sought through training, mentoring, and leadership, to transform the local child welfare system to be one that fosters awareness and knowledge regarding the impact of trauma on children and families; and upon those who serve and care for them. In October of 2012, BFP began the development of a system transformation project which entailed establishing a framework for the incorporation of trauma-informed care across the community of practice.  Ashley was instrumental in the development of this program, “Brevard Youth Thrive”.

Under Ashley’s leadership, “Brevard Youth Thrive” has grown substantially and has achieved many impressive accomplishments since inception including: the convening of two annual community-wide summits with over 200 community members in attendance and the facilitation of five trauma-informed care training sessions within Brevard County. Brevard Youth Thrive was also selected by the Center for the Study of Social Policy to become a pilot Youth Thrive site and the program was presented to the DCF IL State Director and DCF Deputy Secretary, Pete Digre.

Ashley’s innovative contributions to the local child welfare system and Brevard Family Partnership will continue to have a lasting impact on the children and families that we serve. Ashley seeks to improve the lives of children by adhering to the quote of John Sipp who said “Every Kid Is One Caring Adult Away From Being A Success Story”.