Member Category: <span>Staff</span>

My entire life I knew that I wanted to help children. My journey with the dependency system began over 10 years ago.

While fostering her daughter Maria became aware of the challenges faced by children and families in the dependency system. Maria decided she wanted to remain involved in an effort to try and offer assistance to other foster parents, and we are grateful she did.

Bill became involved in the system of care when he took on the role of a non-relative caregiver to one of his students. Over the past 10 years, he has been a committed caregiver to around 90 children, most of which have been teenagers.

In the 3 years since she became a foster parent, Ivette has fostered over 25 children. Ivette brings enthusiasm and fresh insight to our board. We are glad to have her onboard.

Yani is a Review Specialist for Florida Foster Care Review. As such, she facilitates the judicial review process with volunteer panel members to ensure that children in dependency are safe and appropriately placed and that the children and their families receive necessary services to remedy the reasons why they came into care.

"We may often feel that our voices are not heard, but when we as foster parents find our collective voice (a voice fueled by the pure desire to see better outcomes for children), its power and effectiveness will surprise us all!”