February’s Family Support Awareness Month reminds us that strong families are built with support and education.
At Thompson Child & Family Focus, our mission has always been to serve children and families through healing, education, worship, and play. We believe that most families don’t need to be fixed. they need to be supported. When caregivers have the right tools and resources, children are safer and families can stay together.
Every day we realize the power of family support. A group of four siblings recently came into our care. Witnessing ongoing domestic violence and living in chaos, their actions reflected pure survival: tantrums, verbal abuse, climbing into cars, hoarding food, not knowing when they would next find safety or food.
Everything changed when they were placed in the care of their great-aunt. With the help of our case management team, she established a routine, ensured the children’s attendance at school and therapy, and secured spots in after-school care and summer camp.
Rather than sever ties, she strengthened her ties with her mother, bringing her children with her on every visit and welcoming her mother to school and church events. They still love their mother deeply, but they also know that living with their aunt will give them the stability they need.
When family support works:
Thompson serves as the Child Welfare Case Manager in Seminole County, supporting families already involved in the child welfare system. Our prevention-first approach recognizes that many children can remain safely within their families and extended family networks if the right support is provided early. Family support services such as home visiting, parent education, and family preservation are among the most effective and results-oriented tools in child welfare. Last year, 97% of families who attended Thompson’s services avoided further involvement with Child Protective Services.
As state leaders gather in Tallahassee for Congress, we urge them to prioritize prevention and family support programs. These programs help change the course of Florida’s children and their futures, and continued investment allows us to continue providing this assistance to all families who benefit.
Across the state, Florida child and family service providers are working to help families earlier and more effectively. We work with partners for Florida’s Children and Families to advocate for prevention-focused solutions that keep children safe and supported, build stronger families, and promote generational change.
Children in Florida deserve to grow up in strong families and have every opportunity to reach their full potential. In honor of Family Support Awareness Month, let’s focus on investing in programs that give all families the support and resources they need to thrive.
Will Jones is President and CEO of Thompson Child & Family Focus. Thompson Child & Family Focus is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening children, families, and communities through an array of services, including foster care, residential programs, family protection, and behavioral health.
