Family Services of Metro Orlando, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to empowering communities to create possibilities for children and families, today announces its 2008-09 fiscal year-end adoption achievements. Last year, the organization and its partner agencies served more than 8,500 children and more than 5,000 families and reported the following successes:
* Placed 202 children in adoptive homes, surpassing the state mandated adoption goal outlined in Family Services’ contract with the Department of Children and Families by 19 percent
* Provided permanent placement for 38 difficult to place youth, ages 12 or older, representing 19 percent of the 202 children adopted
* Placed more than 48 percent of the children adopted throughout the year with at least one of their siblings, totaling 36 sibling groups (97 children) adopted
“I’m a proud mother and our family is truly blessed to have been able to adopt two children, Lyla and Laynie, into our family this year,” stated Kim Baer, adoptive mother and board member of Family Services of Metro Orlando.
“At the beginning of our fiscal year, we set an ambitious goal to finalize more than 200 adoptions and I’m thrilled that we were able to meet that goal. Nearly half of the children adopted this year in Orange and Osceola counties were part of a sibling group and almost 20 percent of the children placed were teenagers,” stated Greg Kurth, CEO of Family Services of Metro Orlando. “These achievements are a result of the dedication and commitment of our employees, partners and community members.”
The successes of Family Services and its Case Management Organizations were mirrored throughout the state of Florida, as announced by Governor Charlie Crist during a press conference on July 22, 2009. Florida set a new state adoption record this year by finalizing 3,776 adoptions as of June 30, 2009. Family Services works with four Case Management Organizations including Children’s Home Society, Devereux, Intervention Services and Kids Hope United to provide services to children and families in Orange and Osceola counties. This year, all four agencies exceeded their fiscal year’s adoption goals.
About Family Services of Metro Orlando
Family Services of Metro Orlando is a private, non-profit organization responsible for the management of services to vulnerable children and families in Orange and Osceola counties. Through its innovative programs and extensive community partnerships, the organization provides oversight of child protection services, such as prevention, intervention, foster care, adoption and independent living services. Family Services maximizes public and private resources and coordinates community partnerships toward holistic services for children and families. For more information, visit www.fsmetroorlando.org or call 877-6-MY-KIDS.
ALLIE STEVENS
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
FRY | HAMMOND | BARR
600 E WASHINGTON ST ORLANDO FL 32801
P 407.849.0100 x258 / F 407.422.7455
D 407.455.5085 / C 407.883.8903
