Nov. 18 was a home-run day for Brevard County children and families. Twenty children exited the child welfare system and united with their forever families as part of a Celebration of Adoption ceremony held by Family Partnerships of Central Florida. Adoptions happen every day across the state, but this multi-family adoption ceremony was in celebration of November as National Adoption Month and Nov. 23 as National Adoption Day — a time to remind communities about the 3,600 children and youth across the state in need of permanent, loving homes. Judge Kelly McKibben presided over this year’s ceremony as 15 families added another VIP to their home team. Learn more about this special day from reporting by Florida Today.

Photo: Family and friends celebrate after Rachel Wilson adopted 3-year-old Annie at Family Partnerships of Central Florida’s Celebration of Adoption Nov. 18 at the USSSA Sports Complex in Viera. (FPOCF photo/Kyra Garza)

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Dozens of backpacks filled with hygiene products and new pajamas will be donated to foster kids in Brevard, Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties through Family Partnerships of Central Florida. It’s a collaborative effort between Closet Factory, which donated 250 backpacks and luggage tags, and Comfort Cases, which donated the supplies that go inside. “For you to be able to donate these backpacks, for us to be able to fill them, we are making a change,” said Rob Scheer, founder of Comfort Cases, an international nonprofit that provides free backpacks for children in the foster care system. With more than 21,031 foster kids in Florida alone and 400,000 across the United States, the need is great, say both Scheer and Phil Scarpelli, president and CEO of Family Partnerships. Hear the full interview with both leaders and watch the volunteers in action: Volunteers donate backpacks with hygiene products, other needs for foster children in Orlando (clickorlando.com)

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Elizabeth Ballard wasn’t planning to have children. Now, she’s the mother of six, ranging from toddler to teenager. The Osceola County mom became a foster parent and then felt called to adopt the children she’d come to call her own. She’s not alone. Since January, families have adopted 295 children throughout Brevard, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties with the help of Family Partnerships of Central Florida. But with 233 children available for adoption now, Ballard will tell you there’s much more to do for Central Florida’s kids: https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2024/06/27/osceola-co–in-need-of-more-adoptive-parents

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