POSTED: April 26, 2024
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UPDATE: When will the new agency assume full leadership of the system of care for Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties?
Embrace Families Community Based Care staff are working closely with Brevard Family Partnership in a deliberate, phased process of transitioning each department to the new agency’s leadership, with case management as the first priority. All Embrace Families Community Based Care functions will transition to Brevard Family Partnership May 1.
Will Brevard Family Partnership change its name?
Yes. Brevard Family Partnership will operate under the new name of Family Partnerships of Central Florida, reflecting its care of children and families in Brevard, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.
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POSTED: March 4, 2024
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Which agency was chosen by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) to assume the contract for Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties?
DCF announced March 4 that it has chosen Brevard Family Partnership to fulfill the contract as the child welfare lead agency for Central Florida’s tri-county area (districts 9 and 18).
The board of directors of Embrace Families Community Based Care notified DCF Nov. 16, 2023, that Embrace Families would not seek to renew its contract as the child welfare lead agency for the tri-county area. That meant a new agency would need to be selected by DCF to assume the lead agency role. More information about that decision is available in a news release posted Nov. 22, 2023.
When will the new agency assume full leadership of the system of care for Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties?
Embrace Families Community Based Care staff are working closely with Brevard Family Partnership in a deliberate, phased process of transitioning each department to the new agency’s leadership, with case management as the first priority. All Embrace Families Community Based Care functions are expected to transition to Brevard Family Partnership by May 15.
Will there be any disruption of services to the children and families Embrace Families serves?
Throughout the transition process, Embrace Families’ case management partners and staff will continue working with the families assigned to them, so there will be no disruption of services.
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POSTED: Feb. 7, 2024
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Embrace Families terminated its contract with the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). What does that mean?
On Nov. 16, 2023, the board of directors of Embrace Families Community Based Care notified Florida DCF that Embrace Families would not seek to renew its contract to serve as the lead child welfare agency providing foster care, diversion, adoption and other support services to children and families in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. That meant a new agency would need to be selected by DCF to assume the lead agency role for the tri-county area. More information about that decision is available in a news release posted Nov. 22, 2023.
Will Embrace Families continue to serve the tri-county area during the process of selecting and transitioning to a new lead agency?
Yes. There has not been, nor will there be, any disruption of service to the children and families Embrace Families serves. Case managers and staff will continue to provide the exceptional quality of care and service they have always offered to ensure that Central Florida families have the support they need to thrive.
How will a new lead agency be chosen?
Organizations interested in becoming the new lead agency were required to submit bids for the tri-county area’s contract by Jan. 25. Two established child welfare lead agencies serving other parts of the state applied: Brevard Family Partnership and Kids Central Inc. DCF is currently reviewing those bids. An announcement is expected no later than March 11.
When will the new organization assume the lead agency role for the tri-county area?
The selected organization will begin the process of transitioning to the lead agency role by April 1. The target date to complete that process is May 15. At that time, the new organization will assume child welfare responsibilities for our tri-county area.
Will caregivers and adoptive parents continue to receive their subsidies from Embrace Families?
Yes, those subsidies will continue throughout the transition period. Responsibility for subsidy payments will transfer to the new lead agency in May.
Will current case managers continue to work with their families?
Throughout the transition process, case managers from Camelot Community Care, Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services and One Hope United will continue to work with the families assigned to them. Because the new agency will need qualified staff to serve our tri-county families once that process is complete, it is also expected that Embrace Families staff who work directly with children and families will transition to the new agency, if they choose to do so.
Why should I continue to support Embrace Families?
We will continue to care for Central Florida’s families until DCF awards the contract to a new agency. To do that, we need the ongoing support of business partners, donors and volunteers. Once a new agency takes the lead in the tri-county area, it will also need the generous support of caring people like you to ensure the needs of our children and families continue to be met.
What is happening to Embrace Families Solutions and Embrace Families Foundation?
Embrace Families Solutions officially separated from Embrace Families Inc., the umbrella organization for our family of nonprofit organizations, on Jan. 1. At that time, this prevention-focused agency began operating under a new name, RISE Community Solutions, with no disruption of services within its five program areas: Pathways to Home, Children’s Advocacy Center Osceola, Breakthrough, Public Allies Central Florida and the Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) Project. While both Embrace Families Foundation and Embrace Families Inc. will eventually dissolve, those entities currently continue to operate and provide support to both Embrace Families CBC and RISE Community Solutions.
Did DCF terminate Embrace Families’ contract?
No. The board of directors of Embrace Families Community Based Care made the decision to terminate the contract. More information about that decision is available in a news release posted Nov. 22, 2023.
