MELBOURNE, Fla. – March 28, 2014 – Brevard Family Partnership, Brevard County’s lead agency for child welfare announced that a new organization will soon provide case management services to children in court-ordered dependency (foster care). Central Florida based IMPOWER was selected from a pool of four organizations that bid on the contract and will be the sole provider of services.

In late 2013, BFP posted an Invitation to Negotiate for case management services. IMPOWER responded with a service plan to incorporate the strategic priorities outlined by BFP, including engaging more families in high-fidelity Wraparound and Family Team Conferencing programs. IMPOWER’s plan further established specialty substance abuse units to help address a significant issue with many families in Brevard County.

In its role, IMPOWER will provide trained and experienced case managers for children in Brevard’s foster care system. Case managers will conduct home visits of children while in foster or group homes, organize services such as counseling and therapy, and interact with Child Welfare Legal Services and Guardians Ad Litem in the best interests of the children in their care. IMPOWER also provides public adoption services for BFP, assisting in the recruitment of adoptive families, matching children with prospective families and providing post-adoption services.

IMPOWER, a leading mental health & child well-being organization that serves the needs of individuals and families throughout Central Florida will begin providing services on July 1, 2014. Founded in 1994 originally as Intervention Services, Inc., IMPOWER is rooted in Central Florida with established service offices in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Brevard, Volusia and Polk Counties. Each year the organization serves more than 9,000 individuals and families in home, school and community-based settings through a continuum of services dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve the skills and tools needed to lead safe, healthy, meaningful and productive lives.

IMPOWER is actively working with BFP and the existing case management agencies currently under contract to transition services effectively and with minimal disruption to children and families. Community and family meetings will be coordinated over the next several months to address questions and concerns.

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