Get to know – ChildNet Inc

What is the name of your organization?  ChildNet, Inc.

What is your mission? To protect abused, abandoned and neglected children in the communities we serve.

How and when did you get started?  We started were founded in 2002 by local community advocates and in 2003 -ChildNet has been chosen by the Florida Department of Children & Families to serve as the Community Based Care (CBC) lead agency in both Broward and Palm Beach Counties. As such, it is the single private non-profit entity responsible for managing the local system of services and supports for the communities’ most vulnerable children. Our system of care was developed with extensive input from local stakeholders and its effective implementation depends upon their continued support.

Who do you help? We help abused, neglected and abandoned children and youth in Palm Beach & Broward counties. We care for children and youth that enter the foster care system. Currently we have approximately 1,700 children and youth in our care.

Are there volunteer opportunities?  We do have volunteer opportunities such as organizing and sorting our donations in our donation closet, Assisting with our annual toy drive by sorting toys and volunteering to help distribute toys as foster parents come in to pick out gifts for the holidays.  Any where children can be helpful/involved?  There may be opportunities for kids to help sort through our donations and toys.  Unfortunately we do not have opportunities to interact with the kids that we serve because they are in protective custody and therefore their identities need to be kept confidential.

Are there any specific items that people can donate?  We always need diapers and baby wipes.  Other items that we need depends on the season.  I.e. Thanksgiving time-support for those families that are struggling to buy food for this holiday, Holiday/Christmas time-toy drive-toys for all ages and/or gift cards for our teens in care, spring time-Easter baskets for our kids that celebrate this holiday. Summer Fun-swimsuits, towels, etc..

What is your website?  www.childnet.us

What else do we need to know about you?  We are very flexible-if there is a donation drive or a focus that you have, let me know and we can get creative.  i.e. maybe you want to have a gently used baby clothes drive…or new flip flop drive, or you can have your kids create special cards for our kids and we can give them out to help lift their spirits, etc…as long as we have room in our donation closet we would love to do something like this.