Thank you Town House for being a part of OSFCA

Thank you Betty Schroeder for 50 years and Franny Soctomah for 37 years

In recognition of National Foster Care Month, OSFCA, recognized two of our long time members for their commitment to children in foster care. Each foster parent was given a crystal award and pin. Thank you Betty Schroeder for 50 years and Franny Soctomah for 37 years of service to providing a loving home to many of our local abused and neglected children.

A great big thank you to Mrs. Linda Ekkens

I want to introduce Mrs. Linda Ekkens, who has spent countless hours at jc's Kidz Dudz clothing closet.  Linda has been volunteering since the inception of the clothing closet and was a HUGE part of the organization and fine details that help make this closet in Orange County what it is today.  Thank you Linda for your continued support, dedication and commitment since the beginning.....

EAA Young Eagles Flight 2016

Child Best Hope Team

Child Best Hope Team:

 

On January 13, 2016, the House Subcommittee on Children, Families & Seniors heard testimony from Heather Rosenberg, the president of the Tallahassee Area Foster and Adoptive Parent Association.  Heather is also an adoptive parent with her own story to tell about the importance of the court considering the best interests of the child.  Heather spoke in support of House Bill 673 – The Child’s Best Hope Act.  Although there have been a few modifications to the bill, they have been to strengthen the focus on the child’s best interest.   The subcommittee voted unanimously in favor of the bill.

 

Heather said it best, “There are times when an adoption intervention is a good and beautiful thing – when it is done very early in a case and with the right intention – it has the ability to get the child out of the dependency system and into permanency quickly. This is exactly what we need and want. But when a child has been in a stable, loving home for many, many months or sometimes even years – there needs to be a mechanism in place for the system or the court to take that into account and weigh whether or not the child is best served by the intervention.  After all, this should be about what is good and right for the child – not what is desired by or benefits the adults.   A child’s best hope for a strong future where they get to grow up happy, safe, confident and secure lies in our ability to do what’s in their best interest.”

 

There are two more committees in the house and one more in the Senate before it goes to the floor.

 

You can listen to Heather Rosenberg’s Testimony on the Florida Channel at:

 

http://thefloridachannel.org/videos/11316-house-subcommittee-children-families-seniors/  

 

On another legislative matter, Senator Detert and Representative Albritton, are sponsoring a bill recognizing foster parents by creating a “Foster Family Appreciation Week” to be the second week of February of each year.  They will recognize the enduring and invaluable contributions that foster parents provide to the children in their care and, thus, to the future of this state.  

 

You can read the bill here:

 

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0657__.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0657&Session=2016

 

Thanks to each of you for your support

 

Respectfully,

 

Alan F. Abramowitz

Executive Director

Guardian ad Litem Program

600 South Calhoun Street, Suite 274

Tallahassee, Florida 32399

Cell:  850.241.3232

https://www.facebook.com/FSFAPA/posts/967039736721742

Story time with the Mayor

Representative Bob Cortes

Representative Bob Cortes was very open to meeting with us.  He spent the time to look up bills we wanted to discuss and was truly happy to care of his new addition!  He named his baby Ashlee whom gave him the doll.