Oh the Places You'll Go!

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
-an excerpt from “Oh, they places you’ll go” by Dr. Seuss

We’ve all heard the old adage, “It takes a village to raise a child”. Our foster parents know this better than anyone. You brave the late night phone calls asking if you are able to take a child. You rub the backs of our children who are afraid to fall asleep because they are haunted by the memories of abuse in their dreams. You read to them from the book above, letting them know that they matter and that they will achieve their heart’s desire . Every day, our foster parents go above and beyond to ensure the children in their care get the love and support they deserve.

May is National Foster Care Month. We dedicate this month to our caregivers who have decided to open their hearts and homes to children in need of love and safety. Being a foster parent is not always easy, and sometimes it can feel like a thankless job. However, you persevere and accept the challenges and obstacles that caring for a child who has experienced trauma may bring.

Without foster parents, children would not have the hope of a safe haven to escape their life of abuse and neglect. You have changed countless lives of children, youth, and young adults across Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties for the better. We appreciate all of the time and dedication that you have invested into our children. You have given them a brighter future.

We thank you. We salute you. We are forever indebted to you.

For those who are still considering becoming foster parents: the time is now. We need your help. Every child deserves to know they are worthy of love and protection. Call us at 1-866-90CHILD and visit our page about foster care. Only you can help us break the cycle of abuse and neglect.