South Florida Foster Program: Helping Trafficked Children Find Forever Homes

Citrus Health Network's Foster Care Initiative

• 💡 Citrus Health Network oversees a foster care department serving children aged 5-18 who have experienced trauma.
• 🎯 With over 150 children in their network, there is a significant need for foster families.
• 💖 Foster parents are described as cheerleaders who provide essential support and advocacy for these children.

The CHANCE Program: Supporting Trafficked Youth

• 🆘 The CHANCE program specifically serves and supports children who are victims of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.
• ⚠️ Human trafficking is defined as a form of modern slavery and a serious federal crime.
• 🏃 Children in this program may be more prone to running away due to the intoxicating nature of that lifestyle.
• 🏠 Foster families are required to have security measures like cameras or alarms to monitor youth.

Becoming a Foster Parent

• 🌟 Experienced foster parent Freenet Williams emphasizes the importance of "home training" and treating foster children as her own.
• 🤝 The program aims to provide children with a different and better experience than what they have previously encountered.
• ⚠️ A common challenge is the stereotype that these children are "bad kids", which is inaccurate.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Citrus Health encourages families to work with one child at a time to offer undivided attention and patience.

Addressing the Need for Foster Parents

• 🗣️ Potential foster parents are urged to "get off the fence" and reach out to the CHANCE program.
• ❓ Prospective parents are encouraged to consider what they can offer and recognize these youth are simply in need of help.
• 📈 Citrus Foster is actively seeking foster parents, especially for the CHANCE program, highlighting a very limited amount of current foster parents.
• 🏡 The organization also supports children who have aged out of the foster care system if they need assistance or a place to stay.