A Southwest Florida non-profit dedicated to supporting foster families and foster children is expanding into Cape Coral.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Foster Village SWFL, which aims to equip, connect, and advocate, is marking the opening of its new Cape Coral HUB on Oct. 18. The new location is the organization\u2019s first in Lee County, as its Collier County location has served hundreds of families in just under two years of service.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cReally, we serve all of Southwest Florida,\u201d said Heather Finocchiaro, Foster Village founder and executive director. \u201cSo many of our families are here in Cape Coral. It\u2019s a really great opportunity to open a hub in the city where so many of the families we serve, live.\u201d<\/p>\n
Foster Village invites the public to visit the new resource center, at 1510 SE 41st Terrace next Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The hub is made possible via a partnership with First Cape Church, which owns the property.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This resource center will serve as a center of operations to serve children and families, both by providing a boutique shopping experience for children in a child-friendly, trauma-informed setting, and by offering a space where families can gather for fellowship, support, and encouragement through play days, workshops, and gatherings in a home-like environment. Finocchiaro said it\u2019s also a place where the community can get plugged in on practical ways to provide tangible help to children in care, and families can come and receive the physical and emotional support desperately needed to continue caring for children from hard places.<\/p>\n
\u201cFamilies can come and pick out clothing that they need \u2014 really anything,\u201d Finocchiaro said. \u201cWe have toiletries, school supplies, backpacks, toys, blankets, stuffed animals \u2014 all the things a child might need when entering a new home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Foster Village was eager to expand into Lee County due to the growing need in the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really want to be accessible to the families we serve,\u201d Finocchiaro said. \u201cWe were noticing we were delivering so many welcome packs (to Cape Coral and Lee County). So, now we are opening a hub right here in the neighborhood.\u201d<\/p>\n
Foster Village SWFL\u2019s mission is to come alongside children and families who are experiencing the child welfare system to show them they are not alone. According to Foster Village, more than 50% of foster families will quit within their first year, demonstrating the need for holistic support beyond the system to prevent isolation and burnout. Foster Village SWFL makes sure foster families and children have their basic needs met, connects foster families to resources and each other, and advocates for each child\/caregiver experiencing foster care on their individual journey. In the last 12 months, the tangible support Foster Village SWFL provided families impacted more than 600 children and had more than 1,100 registrations for events they hosted for families.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to show families they are not alone, that there\u2019s a community of people who see what they\u2019re doing, appreciate what they\u2019re doing, and are here for them along the way,\u201d Finocchiaro said. \u201cIt can be a challenging experience stepping into the messy world of foster care. So many people underestimate how hard it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finocchiaro and her husband understand what these foster families go through, as they were once foster parents themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we had the community around us that said, \u2018What you\u2019re experiencing is normal,\u201d we would have kept going,\u201d she said. \u201cBecause it was so outside our zone of comfort, we thought it was too complicated. We just want to normalize the experience to help sustain caregivers.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said between decisions being made without foster family\u2019s input, and seeing kids have to return to unsafe situations, there\u2019s just a lot that goes on that feels negative.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if you\u2019re encouraged by other people that let you know they\u2019re here for you and have your back, you can keep doing it for the kids,\u201d she said. \u201cIt comes down to showing up for the kids and tolerating a broken system.\u201d<\/p>\n
Serving as a bridge between vulnerable families and the greater community, Foster Village SWFL looks to break generational cycles of adversity to create a better future for local neighborhoods, children, and the caregivers who raise them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe care for the child by caring for the caregiver,\u201d Finocchiaro said. \u201cWe know that a stable home is going to be what\u2019s best for the child\u2019s outcome long-term. We want to equip the caregiver immediately with anything they need to be able to say \u2018yes\u2019 to caring for that child. Whatever tangible items they need, we will provide immediately.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then we can invite them in to a community of others that are walking the same path. Whether it\u2019s through support groups, play days, family gatherings \u2014 we\u2019re really about building community for these families. We partner with a lot of local businesses and churches to put on seasonal events as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
For instance, Foster Village SWFL rents out Hertz Arena during the holidays for kids to go ice skating and create events that produce lasting memories.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re about experiences,\u201d Finocchiaro said. \u201cAt these events you\u2019ll see siblings that are at different homes come together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Foster Village also helps throw parties for things such as birthdays, graduations, adoptions, and other milestones.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt warms our hearts to be able to see these kids experience normalcy and the joy that comes from a typical childhood,\u201d Finocchiaro said. \u201cWe want to create as many of those opportunities to have the kids feel understood and feel joy in any way that we can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Foster Village SWFL\u2019s new Cape Coral Resource Center will serve beyond Lee County as they receive requests from Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, and Glades counties as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have not even opened yet, and we have served multiple families from Charlotte County, who know that we\u2019re closer to them, are happy to come down,\u201d Finocchiaro said. \u201cThey\u2019re already so excited there\u2019s a resource close to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Being a newer non-profit, Foster Village is privately funded by individuals that are committed to the mission. Local churches play a big role as well. Finocchiaro said the organization is also beginning to receive more grant funding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we become more established, we\u2019re excited to get more funding from grants,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Foster Village also serves kinship families, or families that take on childcare that are close relatives or friends of the parents.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe see a ton of grandparents who live in a small apartment and are bringing in their grandchildren and have to find bunk beds,\u201d Finocchiaro said. \u201cIt\u2019s really neat to have a grant now where we can specially help grandparents who are helping raise their grandchildren.\u201d<\/p>\n
Foster Village plays a role in helping parents who are getting their children back as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe recognize that a lot of the reasons children are removed from their home, is because parents don\u2019t have a village \u2014 they don\u2019t have the resources and family members to call on during hard seasons,\u201d Finocchiaro said. \u201cWe also want to offer them that same village of support and see them succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finocchiaro said the non-profit is excited to continue to spread the message of what they do, seeking out those that have a heart for vulnerable children.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIncreasing the community\u2019s awareness that we are here as basically a bridge to these families, and any way you want to serve or get involved, we have opportunities,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have had so many volunteers in Cape Coral step forward. There\u2019s so much grassroots support for this. I think Cape Coral will be a great community to support our mission.\u201d<\/p>\n