Building Blocks to Permanent Families
There are 400,000* children and youth in foster care in America, and 4,000 of them are here in South Florida. What better time than May, which is National Foster Care Month, to acknowledge the foster parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, child welfare professionals, members of the community and the agencies who connect these kids to permanent homes.
Being part of a problem that includes half a million displaced children puts South Florida on the frontlines of finding a solution, and one local organization is taking steps to solve the problem in both Florida and beyond…
Out of the Mouths of Babes … You Have Ordained Strength
Over the last 17 years, 4KIDS has established a solid track record exceeding both Florida foster care standards and those attained by Florida foster care itself, as measured by provision, protection, permanence and stability, and wellbeing. While studies and figures attest to the high level of performance and effectiveness of the 4KIDS model, the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. There’s no more encouraging and inspiring evidence than the heartfelt words of the children and young adults whose lives have been changed by 4KIDS of South Florida programs and the families and individuals who support them.
Timeline
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Sharing the Vision of A Home for Every Child
While the worthy vision of “A Home for Every Child” has thus far been backed by operations in just South Florida, it has long been the hope at 4KIDS to reach kids in the rest of Florida and beyond. As news of the success of their model spread, 4KIDS began garnering the attention of not only local and national government agencies but communities with a dire need for effective foster care.
Equipping others
So the agency began getting its ducks in a row to work on branching out in order to equip others to help kids that 4KIDS of South Florida couldn’t reach…
The Possible Dream
“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets” (Habakkuk 2:2).
It may be a faith-based agency, but 4KIDS leadership understands that without a vision they would perish. As such, the agency sets annual strategic goals, some of which have seemed unattainable but yet have been reached. In fact, this year they met their goal to license 100 homes in Broward County a full three months early.
4kids of South Florida • 954.979.7911 • www.4kidsofsfl.org
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