Family Central Inc.

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Meet Gisela Cardenas

Sometimes recognizing that a problem exists is the most important step one can take in resolving it. So says Gisela Cardenas, the mother of a daughter with special needs, who was directed to Family Central for support in 2008. At 18 months, Cardenas’ young daughter could neither crawl nor utter simple words like “mama” or “papa”. While Cardenas suspected something wasn’t quite right with her daughter, her husband absolutely refused to accept it, insisting instead that the child was merely a bit delayed. Their differing views took a heavy toll on their marriage and family until Gisela was referred to Family Central. According to Cardenas, it was a referral that changed their lives.
“I was dealing with the news of a sister far away in Italy dying from cancer and this child I knew had problems,” she said. “If it weren’t for Family Central, I would not have overcome everything that happened to me.”
The family was placed with Karime Bourzac, a Family Central nurturing coach, who helped them not only obtain the necessary therapy for their daughter, but provided emotional support as well.
“In the past, whenever anything happened in my life, I always blamed myself,” said Cardenas. “Karime helped me understand that sometimes things just happen in life and no one is to blame. She helped me realize that what was going on with my daughter was not my fault and that we could find help for her.”
Bourzac also helped the couple with one another – encouraging Cardenas to approach her husband differently about the topic and motivating him to listen without getting angry.  She says he eventually softened and supported her decision to seek help for their daughter.
The couple, who also have a young son, was placed on a waiting list to participate in Family Central’s 24-week Nurturing Parenting program.  They cleared the list in February and Bourzac now makes one two-hour in-home visit per week. During that time, the couple is offered parenting and nurturing techniques that Cardenas said have proved invaluable.
“We now go out at least once a week to do things together as a family,” Cardenas said.
Her husband, who often worked late hours that brought him home after the children were asleep, now arrives earlier to bathe and read to them before bed. Cardenas said these changes are all based on the advice and support received from Family Central.
“He was affectionate with them before, but he now hugs and kisses them much more,” she said. “The children are much more happy, more organized. We are much more united. We don’t think exactly the same way in everything, but we respect one another’s opinions.”
Cardenas’ daughter is making strides with therapy as well. She now has speech, physical and occupational therapy. She has issues with stability, but she walks. She has made progress with her speech as well, uttering sounds and making movements with her mouth that she was unable to achieve before. It is progress Cardenas treasures.
“Family Central helped me in all aspects of my life,” she said. “I don’t know where I would be today without their support.”
 

Meet Cynthia Colquhoun

When she arrived to the United States from Jamaica in 1987 with two young daughters, Cynthia Colquhoun found herself homeless and short on options. A friend offered the three a place to live and Cynthia seized the opportunity to make life better for her and her family. She enrolled in school and cleaned homes to make ends meet. Shortly after completing courses in education, she was hired in 1988 as a teacher at Skipper Chuck’s Child Care Center #2, the center she now manages. Cynthia eventually obtained an associate degree in Business Administration and, in addition to her work at the center, is now attending classes full-time at night to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Miami-Dade College.

Under Cynthia’s leadership, Skipper Chuck’s has participated in Family Central programs such as Quality Counts, a voluntary rating system that reviews early learning center activities according to clearly defined, high quality standards using a five star method of evaluation.  The center became a Quality Counts three-star and Gold Seal center in 2008, which places it among a small percentage of high-achieving childcare centers rated by the program.

Quality Counts also offers support and incentives to help providers reach their operational goals. With assistance from the program and Family Central, Cynthia and her teachers received a coveted Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment (A.P.P.L.E.) accreditation, an 18-month evaluative process that covers key areas of a center’s operations. Cynthia is currently pursuing a second A.P.P.L.E. accreditation for one of her sister centers.

Her commitment to excel not only motivates her to do more with her centers and in her own life, but in the lives of others as well. Cynthia encourages her teachers to attend professional development classes and supports them in their efforts. Years ago, when she witnessed a young girl arrive daily with poor hygiene and unhealthy breakfasts, she was deeply moved to act. She took foster parent classes and embarked on a journey that would eventually bring 15 children under her care until they were adopted or returned to their families.  She gives back to the community by reading to children at the local library, participating in neighborhood clean-ups and giving clothes to the homeless. On Sundays, one will always find her at church. Her work in the community is surpassed only by the time she devotes to her family.

Now a proud mother, grandmother and wife, Cynthia has six children and one grandson. She adopted three girls who range in age from 27 to a year.  Her son, a first grader, has participated in Family Central’s Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (H.I.P.P.Y.) program. Cynthia credits the program with his success in school – he has been on the principal’s Honor Roll since kindergarten. She regularly makes the time to take her son and grandson to Boy Scout meetings, soccer, football and other activities.

Cynthia’s life has evolved along a rich and winding road since her arrival more than twenty years ago as a young immigrant mother facing homelessness. Her long-term goal is to open a shelter for teenage mothers where she will, in essence, offer the same help so kindly given to her years ago.  She continues to move forward with energy, passion and an enviable set of goals yet to achieve.

Meet Bridget Jackson

When Bridget Jackson decided to take the big step of opening her own child care business, it was Family Central that led her through the challenging process and to her ultimate success.

Bridget had worked for many years as a Neighborhood Services Coordinator for the Broward County Public Schools. There she worked to connect families to community resources and also earned her Child Development Certificate. She then began working as an Administrator at the Broward County Court House, where she further honed her problem-solving skills while handling multiple projects.

Eventually, Bridget decided to start her own business. With her work experience and love for children, she naturally gravitated to childcare. Bridget remembered Family Central from her days with the school system. Through the Family Central Resource and Referral Department, she got the help she needed to get started.
FCI’s Resource Developer determined she was well suited to become a Family Child Care Home owner/operator. The RD helped Bridget prepare her home, suggested program activities and what type of equipment and toys she needed. Through FCI’s mini-grant program, Bridget was awarded $500 to help purchase toys and learning aids. When the big day approached for the County Licensing Department to inspect Bridget’s home, she asked someone from RD to stop by one last time. Bridget passed the inspection with flying colors. “Family Central provided me with good solid advice, as well as a shoulder to lean on through the whole process,” she said.

After two successful years, Bridget decided she was ready to become a Child Care Center Owner/Director. She leased a commercial space and again contacted Family Central.
A representative visited the new space and made suggestions regarding the layout and set-up of the new center. Again, Bridget received another mini-grant to help pay for more supplies for her new site.
Today she runs the center overseeing 23 infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Several of her parents receive child care subsidies through Family Centrals’ child care subsidy program, and she is offering Voluntary Prekindergarten, also administered through Family Central. Bridget is looking at participating in another FCI program, C-QUeLL, designed to help child care providers deliver a strong early literacy curriculum to the youngsters in their care.
“Giving and teaching. That’s what we do,” she said. “It’s a part of my center. We do it for the children.”

Meet Charles and Alex

Mr. Charles Johnson and his four year old grandson, Alex make the most of the life they share together...

Helping Hand Guides Big-hearted Granddad

Throughout his life, 70-year-old Charles Johnson has opened his arms and heart through the adoption of family members.

Thirty years ago, he adopted his step-daughter to raise as his own. But as the years went by, Charles and his wife were divorced and the daughter developed a substance abuse problem. The daughter had a four-year-old son, Alex. With no adult to step in and take custody of the child, Charles offered to take the child in and ultimately adopted the boy.

Family Central has played a pivotal role in the lives of Charles and Alex as they struggle to succeed. The child care subsidy allows Charles to send Alex to a quality early education program that provides socialization and education, something he could not afford on his own. Child care also gives Alex the opportunity to interact with other children his age.

Family Central also provides referrals. A story about their situation was published in the Palm Beach Post, which resulted in the pair moving from their one-bedroom trailer to a larger mobile home in a new community.
Although the two are separated by 64 years, they enjoy a wonderful relationship, proving that age is no barrier to the love and caring a parent can give to a child. 

 Meet Terry Rutherford

 Terry Rutherford refers to Family Central as a “merchant of hope”. Rutherford, director of Christ Children Academy in Miami Gardens, has partnered with the agency for more than 10 years and found great value in the wealth of services offered to her and her staff. Encouraged years ago by a former Family Central staff member to continuously pursue education; Rutherford took the advice to heart.

 “We’ve been going to school ever since!” she said. 

During the past five years, she has used practically every service and ensured her staff participated in every relevant workshop offered by Family Central. Both she and current and former staff have pursued college degrees. 

“We needed more,” she said. “When the kids came to us we needed to be the best we could be for them.”

 For Rutherford, the biggest reward has been the improved quality of care they can offer children and the resulting positive impact on families. Her passion for excellence in child care drives Rutherford to stay ahead of the curve with training for her staff. She works to ensure they understand the minimum requirements, then surpasses them with workshops, training and additional certifications obtained from partnerships with agencies like Family Central.

“How can you meet the needs of children if you’re only doing the least of what you need to do?” Rutherford asked. 

Despite the concentrated focus on the “what” of training, Rutherford said it was Family Central’s TALK program (Teachers and Literacy for Kids) that really instilled the “why” in her teachers.   TALK includes literacy strategies for parents and families and allows for the creation of a lending library so families have easy access to books they may take home and read to their children. Participation in the program allowed Rutherford and her staff to take advantage of additional leadership and development training.

 “Family Central staff spent individual time with the teachers and showed them that they can enrich children’s lives,” said Rutherford. “They made them more confident. They made them feel they could be the best at what they do. Family Central showed them that we couldn’t just work for the children, we had to work for the family. We needed what we were doing in the school to be reinforced in the home. Teachers know now that they have an opportunity to instill values in our parents by working with our children. “

Rutherford and her staff have also participated in the Anchor Program, a health and wellness program that includes lessons on physical development and conscious discipline. The program gave staff tools to deal with behavioral issues – one of their most challenging areas with children. Through an interactive workshop, teachers learned the seven composures of conscious discipline.

“TALK gave us growth in literacy,” said Rutherford. “Anchor helped us grow with behavioral issues and allowed us to understand how important health is for our children. These two programs really set the momentum for us. Teachers were getting their needs met on every level.”

And importantly, the needs of the families she has served are being met as well. She has had dozens of parents participate in programs offered by Family Central, including the 24-week Nurturing Parenting program. Parents at her current center have shared stories with Rutherford and her staff about their children advising them to turn off the television. Use of the lending library continues to grow.

Rutherford feels strongly that her partnership with Family Central has allowed her to make this kind of impact in the lives of the families she serves. Where other providers may lend support, she believes Family Central gives its heart.

“When one of my teachers died at another center, Family Central sent grievance counselors to talk to staff and students and help us deal with the crisis. Other agencies called us. Family Central didn’t just call. They came.”