Empowering Youth, Supporting Families, Building a Brighter Future
Helping youth and families affected by foster care through opportunities, tools, and resources to thrive. Foster and adoptive youth Pre-K through 12 and their families are welcome. We serve youth and families in 5 northeast Florida counties: St. Johns, Duval, Flagler, Volusia and Putnam.
GET TO KNOW US
WHO WE ARE
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Founded in 2019 by local educator Aubrie Simpson-Gotham, on the belief that all children have unique gifts and talents to share with the world and should grow up loved, valued, connected to family, and embraced by their community. Fostering Connections strives to lessen the impact of foster care on youth and their families by opportunities such as Florida Youth SHINE, technology tools, resources such as our Career Readiness Academy and connections such as Family Empowerment Nights and Teen Talks. We serve five counties in the Northeast Florida region: St. Johns, Duval, Flagler, Volusia and Putnam.
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Fostering Connections is Aubrie's vision to empower foster youth to reach their full potential, supporting the foster and adoptive families caring for these youth through connecting community (volunteers and community leaders) to impactful means that assist foster families in providing stable, loving homes for children in transition.
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Our Mission is to help youth meet their full potential by providing education programs, enrichment scholarships, and community for youth (Pre-K - 12) and families impacted by foster care and adoption. Through this we give each youth and their families the opportunities, tools and resources they need to thrive. ​​​
WHAT WE DO FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY FOSTER CARE
We provide educational and enrichment opportunities.
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Access to technology and learning tools to support students' success
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Academic skill-building opportunities
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Sports, music and other extracurricular activities that encourage creativity and teamwork
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Summer camp experiences that build confidence, friendships, and life skills
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Please note: At this time, our grant program is paused. We are not currently providing direct grants but continue to support youth and families through our other programs and services.
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​We equip children and young adults with career planning and networking skills through:
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Career Readiness Academy
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Teen Talks
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Florida Youth SHINE
​We support families affected by trauma and educate the community with:
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Family Empowerment Nights
PROGRAMS & SERVICES
Career Readiness is a job training program held twice a year for teens in foster care in all five counties we serve. In 2024, we will be adding College Readiness to our Career Readiness program. Click here to find more information.
Teen Talks, which will be held quarterly, are events for Foster/Adoptive teens in grades 6-12 to meet for fellowship, build friendships, and enjoy new experiences in the five counties we serve. Click here for more information.
Monthly Family Empowerment Nights- available to all foster/adoption families in the five counties we serve. Click here for more information.
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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Become a Volunteer
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Donate through:
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Monthly Giving​
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Online Donation
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Send a Check
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Wire Transfer
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Legacy Giving
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Corporate Sponsorship (Annual Gala, Micro-Events and more)
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Employer Matching
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Stock Donation
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- Host a Micro-Event
NEWS & UPDATES
