Broward County
FYS welcomed the Broward chapter in June 2010. After working towards chapter status for close to 2 years, the committed young adults involved with this chapter were excited to see their hard work pay off. As the chapter continues to grow they meet regularly to discuss local hot button issues - education, normalcy, group/foster homes, etc. - and find solutions that are relevent statewide.
The Broward chapter meets on the first Monday of every month at 5:30pm at the FLITE Center in Ft. Lauderdale. For more information please contact them at broward@floridayouthshine.org.
The Broward chapter meets on the first Monday of every month at 5:30pm at the FLITE Center in Ft. Lauderdale. For more information please contact them at broward@floridayouthshine.org.
Circuit 1 (Pensacola area)
Our Pensacola chapter formed in October 2010 and was welcomed into the family a few months later. With the help of their local Community Based Care provider (Family First Network) the chapter has been committed to working on leadership, community engagment and increasing active members.
The Pensacola chapter meets on 2nd Friday of every month at their local Independent Living office. For more information email circuit1@floridayouthshine.org.
The Pensacola chapter meets on 2nd Friday of every month at their local Independent Living office. For more information email circuit1@floridayouthshine.org.
Hillsborough County
The Hillsborough Kids Youth Empowerment Board started long before becoming a member of Florida Youth SHINE in October 2010. As such, their membership base was strong and ready for a commitment to statewide advocacy to go along with the incredible local advocacy work they had already been practicing. In partnership with their CBC (Eckerd Community Alternatives) and the local Independent Living provider (Camelot Community Care) the chapter has found its focus in advocacy, fundraising, and
empowering youth to change their lives.
FYS Hillsborough meets on the 3rd Wednesday of every month. For more information on the chapter please email hillsborough@floridayouthshine.org.
empowering youth to change their lives.
FYS Hillsborough meets on the 3rd Wednesday of every month. For more information on the chapter please email hillsborough@floridayouthshine.org.
Jacksonville
Becoming our second chapter of Florida Youth SHINE not long after
our inception, the Jacksonville chapter has been working hard to increase awareness of the FYS name in their area. Meeting regularly with their Community Based Care provider (Family Support Services), this chapter is an active participant in many community activities. These days, the Jacksonville chapter spends much of their time focusing on identifying areas for improvement within their local child welfare system.
For more information on our Jacksonville chapter email jacksonville@floridayouthshine.org.
our inception, the Jacksonville chapter has been working hard to increase awareness of the FYS name in their area. Meeting regularly with their Community Based Care provider (Family Support Services), this chapter is an active participant in many community activities. These days, the Jacksonville chapter spends much of their time focusing on identifying areas for improvement within their local child welfare system.
For more information on our Jacksonville chapter email jacksonville@floridayouthshine.org.
ManaSota (Sarasota/Manatee/DeSoto Counties)
ManaSota is one of the newest chapters to be added to the Florida Youth SHINE family. They are currently working on making their chapter stronger and spend most of their time focusing on increasing membership. The ManaSota chapter is well on it's way to working hard and advoating for their brothers and sisters in care.
For more information about the ManaSota chapter or to find out when their next meeting is email manasota@floridayouthshine.org
For more information about the ManaSota chapter or to find out when their next meeting is email manasota@floridayouthshine.org
Miami
Our Miami chapter is where Florida Youth SHINE began. This group, sponsored by Lawyers for Children America (LFCA), was already up and running as a youth advocacy organization before FYS became a statewide entity. We are grateful for the groundwork they laid to help get started in 2005. Through their work with LFCA, the Miami chapter created and regularly hosts trainings for youth in/aging out of foster care as well as professionals working within the system.
For more information about our Miami chapter and for meeting dates, please contact them at: miami@floridayouthshine.org.
For more information about our Miami chapter and for meeting dates, please contact them at: miami@floridayouthshine.org.
Orlando
With their focus on empowering foster youth in Orlando, the Youth Advisory Board of Orange County was already a strong organization before joining Florida Youth SHINE in January of 2011. Since joining the FYS family they have only grown stronger by focusing on the educational needs of all youth in care and those who have aged out of care. In addition to working on increasing membership, the chapter also works to identify other areas for advocacy and room for improvement in the foster care system.
FYS Orlando meets on the 4th Thursday of every month. For more information or to attend a meeting please email them at orlando@floridayouthshine.org.
FYS Orlando meets on the 4th Thursday of every month. For more information or to attend a meeting please email them at orlando@floridayouthshine.org.
Palm Beach County
Palm Beach has been a chapter since December of 2008. The chapter and its members are often out in the community spreading awareness of Florida Youth SHINE and the struggles of growing up in care. Now focused on strengthening their chapter membership and identifying topics in their local community that they can impact, the Palm Beach chapter is working hard to cement their local identity.
For more information please contact: palmbeach@floridayouthshine.org.
For more information please contact: palmbeach@floridayouthshine.org.
Pinellas and Pasco Counties
Our Pinellas/Pasco Chapter was welcomed into the Florida Youth SHINE family in November of 2010 when Ready for Life and Camelot Community Care partnered together to help create a youth run, youth council. The chapter is always looking for new ways to engage youth in their community and actively seek out new members during group home visits, life skills training classes, and by meeting potential new members on check day at their local CBC. With meeting attendance at an average of 45 members a month, they now have a goal of retaining the youth and young adults in attendance and to continue to building awareness of Florida Youth SHINE and the youth voice in their community.
For more info or to attend a meeting please contact: pinellaspasco@floridayouthshine.org.
For more info or to attend a meeting please contact: pinellaspasco@floridayouthshine.org.
Southwest Florida (Ft. Myers and the surrounding area)
FYS Southwest Florida is our newest chapter. Officially coming on board in June of 2012 we were so excited to bring this new and enthusiastic group of young adults into our FYS family. While they're just learning the ropes of advocacy and public speaking they are a very bright spark in our future.
For more information about the chapter or to attend their next meeting please email them at southwestfl@floridayouthshine.org.
For more information about the chapter or to attend their next meeting please email them at southwestfl@floridayouthshine.org.
Tallahassee
Our Tallahassee chapter started out as a small group of friends who had aged out of foster care and chapter mentors who were invested in helping them find their voice. What began as a small youth board called Made by Us and quickly grew into our FYS Tallahassee chapter. The chapter now focuses on mentoring teens in care, education (through TCC's Fostering Achievement Fellowship), and developing positive relationships with local group homes.
FYS Tallahassee meets on the 3rd Saturday of every month at Kool Beanz Cafe. For more information on the chapter or to attend a meeting, please email tallahassee@floridayouthshine.org.
FYS Tallahassee meets on the 3rd Saturday of every month at Kool Beanz Cafe. For more information on the chapter or to attend a meeting, please email tallahassee@floridayouthshine.org.
Vero Beach (including Port St. Lucie)
Our Vero Beach chapter has expanded its reach beyond their city limits and now includes the sourrounding counties to form a united group of teens and young adults serviced by United for Families (their local CBC). They are currently working on their advocacy and leadership skills so that they can tackle several very important issues they brainstormed at one of their recent meetings.
For more information about our Vero Beach chapter or to attend their next meeting email them at verobeach@floridayouthshine.org.
For more information about our Vero Beach chapter or to attend their next meeting email them at verobeach@floridayouthshine.org.
