Commissioner Arnold Celebrates Foster Parent Appreciation Month

21 May 2025
Category: SJC News District 2
Tags: 2025

The Family Integrity Program is proud to be the only provider of Foster Care services for St. Johns County.

During the May 20, 2025, St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting, County Commissioner Sarah Arnold, District 2, presented a Proclamation to celebrate May 2025 as Foster Parent Appreciation Month.

Commissioner Arnold invited Michelle Weisheit, Jessica McCrickard, and Chiao Chews to the front of the auditorium to participate in the ceremony.

The Family Integrity Program is a community-based care lead agency contracted with the Department of Children and Families. The mission is to work in partnership with the State of Florida and the local community to develop, implement and manage a highly effective, strength-based community-based system of care for abused and neglected children and their families. We provide different types of intervention, understanding that not one child or family is the same. The vision is that through collaboration with our supportive community, each child will reside in a nurturing, stable, safe home that is free of abuse, neglect, and abandonment.

Here is the Proclamation that was presented:

WHEREAS, St. Johns County’s Family Integrity Program makes all efforts to provide community services to meet the needs of families experiencing crisis and safely maintain children in their homes; and

WHEREAS, a child who cannot safely remain in their home, and who has no other placement options, will enter Foster Care; and

WHEREAS, St. Johns County’s Foster Families are dedicated people who are privileged to provide loving, nurturing homes for children in our community and to achieve the best possible outcomes for children in their families; and

WHEREAS, St. Johns County Family Integrity Program thanks all our local families who have opened their hearts and homes to our children and families during their greatest time of need; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Johns County, Florida, that May 2025, be designated as

FOSTER PARENT APPRECIATION MONTH

encouraging all citizens to join in the effort to raise awareness about the importance of foster parents.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Johns County, Florida this 20^th day of May 2025.