Summer is going by quickly and the Brevard Family Partnership Family of Agencies has been busy!

This summer we have celebrated the one year anniversary of Family Allies, hosted our annual Youth Thrive Summit, and are wrapping up our school supply drive with participation in the Back to School Expo community event at Melbourne Square Mall on August 4.

The Youth Thrive Summit showcased five fantastic young adults who have been part of our System of Care. Their message to us about the importance of adults being there with them in their struggles resonated with the audience and is a daily reminder to me of our mission as a child welfare agency.

We also celebrate the one year anniversary of Family Allies. The bold decision made by the Brevard Family Partnership Board, along with the hard work of the Family Allies leadership team, has led to transformational change in our case management service here in Brevard County. We celebrate all of their accomplishments made in one short year, greatly improving outcomes for children and families.

We should also recognize the work of our Adoption Services staff at IMPOWER, who together with Family Allies Care Managers, and BFP program and legal staff, far exceeded our annual target and finalized 143 adoptions in the 17-18 fiscal year, surpassing our best previous year by 45 adoptions.

Coming up on August 4 is the Back to School Expo at Melbourne Square Mall. Brevard Family Partnership Leadership Team has arranged for several human service agencies from around Brevard to participate with us during this event. We will be showcasing the many services available to families, as well as highlighting the need for foster parents from around the county.

Finally, I want to take a moment to recognize the hundreds of professionals and volunteers who make our System of Care so successful. While we recognize them during National Make a Difference to Children Month, their contributions are essential to protecting children, strengthening families, and changing lives year round. Thank you all for your time, energy, and passion for the children and families we serve.