A Leadership Seminole Connection to Help Local Kids with the Seminole County Fire Department
We love to showcase our profession so that young people know that firefighting is a great career choice. SCFD hosted a group of young people at our Fire Training Center from Embrace Families as part of a "Day in the Life a Firefighter." The kids saw a vehicle extrication, toured our training facility and saw various types of emergency vehicles such as an engine, rescue and woods truck. Thank you to Lt. Baker (Station 24 in Winter Springs, B Shift), Lt. Marcus Gombs (Station 65 near UCF, A Shift) and
Windermere Teen Donates Chess Sets To Youth In Foster Care
After chess helped him overcome difficulties in his own life, a local teenager hopes to help other children use the game to get through their own hardships. On May 12, 17-year-old Windermere High School student, Evan Mathura, donated 100 chess sets to Embrace Families, the lead nonprofit agency overseeing foster care, adoption and child welfare services in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. The organization will distribute the chess sets to youth in foster care who express interest in the sport. “We
Essential Work: Keeping Families Safe
Amy Moncion, LCSW-QS I’ll be honest: It’s been a long year for social workers. As advocates for child welfare, we know how to handle a full plate. In a good year, we’re busy helping families navigate financial hardship, job loss and even homelessness. When parents are struggling with mental illness or substance abuse disorder, we connect them with the resources to recover. We advocate for kids in schools, doctor’s offices, courtrooms and living rooms. 2020 brought all those issues – and some new ones
It takes just 1 conversation
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month – and for the past several years a grassroots effort designed to raise awareness and ignite change has been growing steadily. In 2017, Embrace Families launched the MANicure MovementSM because one fingernail painted blue can start one conversation that moves us one step closer to ending the tragic reality that one in five children will suffer abuse before the age of 18. This year, Embrace Families is hosting a series of webinars aimed at prompting
Florida Helps Drive Access To Greater Independence For Foster Youth Nationwide
New Federal Law Provides Funding to States That Start Driver’s License Program ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 28, 2021) – Embrace Families is pleased to announce the recently enacted COVID Relief Package included a provision that will bring newfound independence for thousands of youth in foster care by making it easier for them to obtain a driver’s license. The provision was based on Keys to Independence, a Florida program developed by Embrace Families, the lead nonprofit organization overseeing child welfare
Embrace Diversity for Florida’s Children
By Mike Bryant As a kid, I lived on the “right side of the tracks.” My dad was a lieutenant colonel, one of the only African American officers of that rank in the military base where I grew up – and that meant I was one of the only black kids in my neighborhood and my school. The base wasn’t explicitly segregated by race, but it was segregated by rank. I learned to live with the undercurrents of racism in every part of my life, including seeing the way people would salute my dad with a veneer of
Kids Deserve Families – and Futures
By Glen Casel, president & CEO of Embrace Families On any given day in Central Florida, there are close to 3,000 children in the care of our community, many of them in foster care. Kids don’t enter the child welfare system because they have done anything wrong. They are there to make sure they are in a safe place. Sometimes that is to protect them from abuse, but much more often it is to make sure their needs aren’t neglected as their families struggle with circumstances that can lead to abuse or
“Fore Our Kids” Golf Tournament Will Be Held Oct. 23
WHAT: On Fri., Oct. 23, golfers will tee off in the “Fore Our Kids” tournament to raise money for Embrace Families. The event will support critical services that provide assistance to strengthen families and prevent child abuse. Last year, Embrace Families delivered services to over 9,500 children in Central Florida. Some are in foster care; all are victims of, survivors of, or at risk of abuse or neglect. Funds raised from this event will be used to ensure safety, provide permanency and maintain the
COVID-19 Hits Hardest for Parents with Kids. Here’s How to Help.
Recently, a single mom – let’s call her “Rachel” – reached out, seeking urgent rent assistance. She never thought she would have to do that … until the coronavirus hit. Rachel had a stable job at the start of the pandemic. Unlike many Floridians, she was able to work remotely when offices closed. But Rachel also had a toddler at home, and she didn’t have anyone to help with childcare when she was on business calls. When her boss decided that the background noise was too disruptive, Rachel was let
This School Year, It’s Okay To Take It Easy
Work. Stress. Socially distant schooling. It’s never easy being a parent, but this fall brings more challenges than most – and right now, one of the toughest challenges of all is helping our kids feel safe in an uncertain world. As the school year begins, here are some ideas designed to reduce the pressure – for yourself and your kids: Create a routine. Adding structure to the day is one of the best ways to feel “normal” –even when the world around us isn’t. For kids who feel anxious, it’s reassuring
Central Florida Residents Recognized For Helping Children And Families In Foster Care
Florida Coalition for Children Foundation Honors IndividualsNominated by Embrace Families ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 18, 2020) – Central Floridians Diane DeMark and Mike Bryant recently earned statewide recognition for their outstanding commitment to helping families in foster care. Embrace Families, the region’s lead agency overseeing child welfare, nominated DeMark and Bryant for the Florida Coalition for Children Foundation’s George Sheldon Lifetime Achievement and Champion for Children awards, respectively.
When “Back to School” Isn’t Back to Normal
Parenting is never easy, but 2020 has been especially taxing. Over the past few months, we’ve learned to navigate closed classrooms, virtual learning, lockdowns, and medical precautions – and, not least of all, the herculean feat of keeping kids entertained at home. But with Florida schools slated to open in the fall, parents face a new dilemma: stick with virtual learning, or send kids back to class? With so many complicating factors – work, health, education, social development, emotional wellness
