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Published: June 22 2013

(L to R): Joe Rogers, ChildNet board chairman; David Wilkins, Secretary of Florida DCF; Tanya Wilkins, Governor's Office of Adoption and Child Protection; Emilio Benitez, ChildNet president and CEO

BROWARD COUNTY – The annual Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner was held recently at First Baptist Fort Lauderdale. Hosted by ChildNet, the Community-Based Care (CBC) lead agency in Broward and Palm Beach counties, the event was an opportunity for Broward County's foster care agencies to honor outstanding foster families who open their hearts and homes to children in care.

The event drew more than 300 foster parents, officials, and child welfare administrators and staff for a night of dinner, awards and raffle prizes. To symbolize the ongoing efforts of foster parents, the Starfish Poem was this year's theme. The poem highlights how just one person can make a huge difference, just as foster parents do in our community.

ChildNet President and CEO Emilio Benitez kicked off the event, delivering opening remarks with a heartfelt thank you to parents for their enduring support of Broward County's foster youth.

"Tonight's dinner is only a small tribute compared with the tremendous care and compassion you provide for the children most in need of love, but it is an important cause for celebration," said Benitez. "Our system works because of the strength of this community, and we are truly grateful for each and every one of you who helps provide loving homes for children who have been abused, abandoned and neglected."

Along with Benitez, Florida Department of Children & Families (DCF) Secretary David Wilkins delivered the keynote speech, highlighting the success of child welfare in Florida as a nationwide model for the future of foster care.

"People can see the energy and enthusiasm that we put into our program," said Wilkins. "Through working together, we've established a baseline of what child welfare is all about, and we hope to be an inspiration to agencies across the country."

During the event, Tanya Wilkins, the Governor's Child Advocate for Foster Care and Adoption, told her own personal story about her experience with foster care. With a mother who was a victim of abuse and as someone placed in foster care prior to being adopted by her grandmother, Wilkins knew that she would someday give back by making a difference in another child's life and help raise awareness of the need for loving parents. "We need more parents who are willing to remove the word 'foster' and simply become parents," said Tanya Wilkins.

Also in attendance were child advocate supporters from foster home management agencies, including 4KIDS of South Florida, Camelot Community Care, Florida Baptist Children's Home, Choices Children & Families Consortium, Kids In Distress, Mount Bethel Human Services, His House Children's Home, National Youth Advocate Program, Devereux Florida, The Twelve and National Mentor Health Care, Inc. Agencies nominated foster parents who have excelled in their foster parenting roles to receive a special award during the dinner.

Tina Severance-Fonte, who has been President of the Broward Foster and Adoptive Parent Association for the past four years, and her husband Jesus Fonte were the recipients of the Foster Parents of the Year award. The Fonte's, who have been fostering children for more than 10 years and currently have their 23rd child in their home, embody the tireless efforts on behalf of the community, serving as excellent role models for other foster families.

"The decision to become a foster parent was something that was on my mind for many years, through numerous different interactions with several different people," said Severance-Fonte. "For starters, my own biological parents took in a teenager when I was still a child. Then there was a family in our church that kept foster kids and eventually adopted all of them, and I secretly wondered what their family dynamic in the home was like. After getting a chance to talk with them, they encouraged me to go through the process of licensing. I couldn't be happier with my decision, and there is truly nothing more rewarding than becoming a foster parent."

Wilkins also conveyed what an important role everyone plays in the success of foster care.

"When children see us investing our lives in theirs – that is what makes the difference," said Wilkins. "Through coming together to invest in changing the lives of our most vulnerable youth, we will continue to see incidents of child abuse decreasing and the number of foster families increasing. We promise that we will always be there for our foster families every step of the way and encourage you to join us in our mission."

As the lead agency in Broward and Palm Beach counties and single private non-profit entity responsible for administration of the local child welfare system, ChildNet brings years of dedication to protecting abused, abandoned and neglected children in the communities it serves.

For more information about becoming a foster parent, please contact ChildNet in Broward County at 954-414-6001. Visit www.ChildNet.us and www.facebook.com/ChildNet.