It is an exciting time at Forty
Carrots Family Center. As hoped, we were able to expand our work in the
community last year and, therefore, have made a positive difference in the
lives of more individual families – 2,231 in the most recent program year. It has been so wonderful to watch the agency
grow and to see the increased benefits for all sorts of children throughout
Sarasota and Manatee Counties.
As a Trustee and, now, Chairman of the Board, it is an honor to be involved with an excellent organization like Forty Carrots. Every member of the Board is truly committed to the agency mission and vision. They are engaged and interactive, offering their time and energy to provide strategic guidance, financial support and community outreach. The collective goal is to provide every parent with the knowledge, skills and support necessary to raise their children in a physically and emotionally safe environment.
Forty Carrots has three inter-related program areas. The Parenting Program, with its highly trained Parenting Educators, supports many families including many of those most at risk within the community. For example, Forty Carrots’ programs benefit:
w Teen parents struggling to stay in school while raising newborn children
w Homeless pregnant mothers struggling with safety and security concerns for themselves and their children
w Mothers in residential programs—those fleeing abuse, escaping sex trafficking or recovering from substance abuse
w Parents who are attempting to regain custody of children removed from their care due to issues like substance abuse or domestic violence
w Homeless families in residential programs
w Parents looking to gain an understanding of, and confidence in, age appropriate behaviors when raising their young children
The Preschool at Forty Carrots offers a high-quality learning environment, featuring an innovative curriculum where preschoolers learn through thoughtful play orchestrated by the teachers at our nationally-accredited (NAEYC) program. Because the Preschool is mostly self-funding, funds raised for this program primarily enable scholarship and special projects or capital improvements.
Forty Carrots’ relatively newer Child and Family Therapy Center offers both general and specialized mental health services in a family centered environment, promoting healthy familial relationships. The majority of families served through this program cannot afford the full cost, and the agency raises funds to provide this essential mental health support for free or on a sliding scale to families in need.
Each of the three programs within Forty Carrots is growing and all reflect our commitment to strong, healthy families and happy, thriving children. On behalf of the Board, I want to express how incredibly grateful we are to our benefactors and community partners who have supported our transformative work. We could not do this without you.
We are looking forward to creating more positive outcomes for families in the community during the coming year. I invite you to learn more by contacting our staff or members of the Board. We appreciate your interest--new or ongoing—and welcome your support.