Speak Up For Kids Of Palm Beach County, Inc.

Child Advocacy Group

On any given day in Palm Beach County, over 1,300 children are displaced due to abuse, abandonment and neglect in their home. More than half of those children are ages five and under.

Children typically are in the foster care system for a year or longer. They can’t go home to their parents until the court allows it. From newborns to teenagers, these children have unique physical, social/emotional and educational needs.

That’s where Speak Up For Kids of Palm Beach County, Inc. can help. This 501(c)(3) non-profit provides for kids in foster care in Palm Beach County through many ways.

“Our goal is to bring stability to their lives, increase advocacy and reduce trauma,” says Coleen LaCosta, Executive Director. The organization has helped over 30,000 kids in the dependency care system since 2008. “Our main goal is to provide the sense of normalcy that every child in foster care needs.”

LaCosta loves all their programs, but she particularly loves STUDENTS Speak Up For Kids, where students take the lead in empowering their peers within the foster care system. LaCosta says she “is constantly amazed by the sheer creativity and brilliance in the projects. From Music Buddies, peers teach foster kids to play instruments, to the STEMist program, to mental health panels that raise awareness and even to the heartwarming gesture of creating special birthday bags – the spectrum of impact is truly remarkable.”

“Another cherished initiative is Embrace Kids, epitomizing our commitment to children in foster care. LaCosta is passionate in stating, ‘We wholeheartedly embrace their needs.’ providing vital financial support, offer unwavering care, and creating memorable moments through events like ‘Winterfest’ and ‘StoryBook Village.”

Founded in 2008, Speak Up for Kids operates without duplicating existing services and extends its support to all children of all backgrounds in foster care.

LaCosta emphasizes, “Our present actions shape the future. By wholeheartedly committing to enhancing the lives of foster children, we work to break the generational cycles of abuse, neglect and abandonment and uplift our community. Together with an army of dedicated volunteers, ambassadors and students, we work tirelessly to expand this compassionate network every day, paving the way for a brighter tomorrow.”

Speak Up For Kids Of Palm Beach County, Inc., 205 N. Dixie Highway, Ste. 2.211, West Palm Beach, 561-408-7779, speakupforkidspbc.org

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