Support forFoster Families

Parenting is tough in the best of circumstances. Once you add in the trauma that has battered many foster children, the tough job of parenting as a foster parent becomes even more difficult. Then when you add in the problems raised by a broken foster care legal system placing the burden of court hearings and disputes raised by the desperation of a broken home and family and a very tough job becomes next to impossible.

But there is help out there! One huge problem is finding the help that you need.

Our goal is to provide one site that lets you connect and learn what you need. Our resources and links offer support, training, services and education to foster parents in our area, the Tampa Bay region and even beyond. Foster parenting is a journey; let us help you on that journey.

Tampa Bay Organizations:

Idlewild Baptist Church
Telephone: (813) 264-1515
Website: www.idlewild.org
Address: 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd, Lutz, FL

The Idlewild Foundation
Telephone: (813) 264-8713
Website: www.idlewildfoundation.com
Address: 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd, Lutz, FL

A Door of Hope
Telephone: (727) 322-7640
Website: www.adoorofhope.com/
Address: P.O. Box 3164, Pinellas Park, FL 33780

The Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA 

The Y has a great program for licensed foster families and The Idlewild Foundation will fund it for the whole family

Contact Orchid Lewis for details and she will connect you with the Y.

Contact: Orchid Lewis

Email: olewis@idlewild.org

Telephone: 813-264-8796

Florida Wait No More
Telephone: 1-800-232-6459 (1-800-A-FAMILY)
Website: www.waitnomore.org
Email: WaitNoMore@fotf.org

Fostering Hope
Address: PO Box 1632, Clearwater, FL
Telephone: (727) 688-5328

Florida 1.27
Address: 13310 North 53rd Street, Suite 200 Tampa, FL 33617
Telephone: 813.563.5127
Website: www.florida127.org/

Finally Home Christian Adoption Services
Website: www.finallyhomecas.com/
Telephone: (888) 445-8060
Email: lsmith@finallyhomecas.com

Celebrate Birthdays
A 501(c)(3) charitable organization seeking to ensure that every foster child, regardless of personal or financial circumstances, has the opportunity to celebrate their birthday and receive a present!
Website: www.celebratebirthdays.org
Telephone: (813) 504-3353
Email: info@celebratebirthdays.org

 

West Florida Foster Care Services
23100 State Road 54 #515
Lutz, FL 33549
Kevin Miller, Executive Director
Telephone: 813-363-3476 Cell
Email: Kevin@wffcs.org
Website: https://wffcs.org

Tampa Bay foster closets:

Redeeming Love Foster Closet At Northside Bible Church
Website: www.facebook.com/RedeemingLoveFC/
Telephone: (813) 563-0272
Address: 405 Hayes Road, Lutz, FL
Email: redeeminglovefc@gmail.com

Fostering Change Foster Closet
Website: www. fosteringchangecloset.com/
Telephone: (813) 421-1958
Address: 10207 Land O Lakes Blvd, Land O Lakes, FL

Garage 517 for teenage boys
Open in Lutz, Florida
Website: https://www.garage517.org/
Telephone: (813)-838-2412
Email: infogarage517@gmail.com

Loft 181 for teenage girls
Website: www. www.loft181.com/
Telephone: (813)245-9397
Email: loft181@yahoo.com

Empty Closets at Temple Terrace United Methodist Church
Website: wffcs.org/hours/
Telephone: 813-988-4141
Address: 5030 E Busch Blvd, Temple Terrace, FL

Plato’s Closet (sells gently used clothing)
Website: www.platoscloset.com/locations/tampa-fl
Telephone: 813-289-3333
Address: 3924 S. Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL

4 Goodness Sake
Website: www.facebook.com/4goodnesssakefostercloset/
Telephone: (814) 431-3123
Address: Ruskin, Florida

Fostering Hope Kidz Closet
Website: www.fosteringhopeflorida.org/kidz-closet.html
Telephone: 352-701-0001
Addresses: 4134 Little Road New Port Richey Fl. and 5310 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill FL

Diaper Bank
The Junior League of Tampa
Address: 87 Columbia Dr., Tampa, FL
If you are an individual in need of diapers, please contact Champions for Children Telephone: (813) 673-4646

Element Church Foster Care Closet – Tampa
Address: 2702 Causeway Center Dr.
Tampa Florida 33619
Telephone: (813) 620-3770
www.iamelement.org/doorofhope

Foster Florida
They have a link to an Amazon Wishlist with purchases sent directly to them
Telephone: (352) 448-5846
Website: fosterflorida.org/connect/
Address: PO Box 358386
Gainesville, FL 32635

Licensing organizations in Hillsborough County

Licensing agencies include:

A Door of Hope, Inc.
8900 US Hwy 19N PO Box 3164
Pinellas Park, FL 33780
Godly Daniel, Executive Director
Telephone: 727-744-7383 Cell
Email: godlydaniel@adoorofhope.com
Website: www.adoorofhope.com

Camelot Community Care
Medical Center, Community Service/Non-Profit
1410 Tech Blvd, Tampa · (813) 635-9765
Tammy Davis – Board Chair
Phone: 727-593-0003
Fax: 727-595-0735
Email: https://camelotcommunitycare.org/about-camelot

West Florida Foster Care Services
23100 State Road 54 #515
Lutz, FL 33549
Kevin Miller, Executive Director
Telephone: 813-363-3476 Cell
Email: Kevin@wffcs.org
Website: https://wffcs.org

Children’s Network of Hillsborough, LLC
3350 Buschwood Park Dr., Suite 200, Tampa · (813) 855-4435
Terri Balliet, President/Chief Executive Officer
Email: irickus@childrenshomenetwork.org
Website: https://www.childrenshomenetwork.org/
Telephone: (646) 400-2600

State and National Organizations

Foster Care Alumni of America
Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA) is a national non-profit association based in Alexandria, VA. It was founded by and is managed by foster care alumni, people who have fostered. It exists to connect the alumni community and to transform policy and practice, ensuring opportunity for people in and from foster care. FCAA allows foster parents to get to know each other and to share information that may help.

National Foster Parent Association
This organization and its website supports foster parents providing resources and information helping foster parents succeed and thrive, supporting the well-being of the children and youth in foster care.

Medical Foster Care
The State of Florida needs more families willing to help in the medical foster care area. The state offers enhanced reimbursement and training. Click on this link to get more information.

Back to School Resources from Create a Family

Create a Family is a national organization devoted to strengthening foster, adoptive, and kinship families with expert-based, trauma-informed resources and trainings. Click here for resources for Back to School.