The Family Readiness Team, a non-profit organization that supports our soldiers and families, in partnership with the District’s Student Support Department, recently received a $75,000 grant award from the Dade Foundation. The award will be used to expand and develop a new innovative model program aimed at providing outreach and support to students and families of American Soldiers who are currently in readiness for deployment, have been deployed or returned after serving in Afghanistan or Iraq.
The initiative offers a variety of services, including individual and group counseling, community outreach, home visitations, tutoring, training and educational opportunities, and sports and family events within the Family Readiness Groups of the military units.
The program also offers opportunities for citizens that do not have family members in the military to learn about the challenges faced by our soldiers and their families in an ongoing basis and to embrace and appreciate the sacrifices made at their time of deployment or return.
The United States Military maintains a significant presence in Florida, specifically in Broward County. Approximately 80,000 active-duty military personnel, 42,000 military spouses and 33,000 school-age children associated with active-duty personnel reside in Florida. Approximately 23,000 military personnel living in Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties have been targeted for deployment to Iraq and /or Afghanistan in late 2009.
It is estimated that each Broward County public school has approximately two to three percent of their students who are part of military families whose mother, father, sibling, etc. have or will be deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq or are ready to be deployed.
With this initiative, the District’s Department of Student Support takes on a leadership role in serving the unmet needs of students, families and the community. These innovative programs are just another demonstration of the sensitivity and commitment shown by staff that is in tune with the challenges facing our country every day.
Broward County Public Schools is the nation's sixth largest public school system and the largest fully accredited district with over 250,000 students in more than 260 schools and education centers. For more information about Broward County Public Schools, visit the District Web site at (www.browardschools.com).
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