Broward Cares For Kids Foundation, Inc.

Hope in action

Broward Cares for Kids' first major project was the raising of funds to purchase a property that would enable ChildNet to develop and subcontract for creative new group care programs. In 2007, it became a reality with the purchase of Miller House.

Initially, it was licensed to serve as a temporary respite center for children entering the local dependency system while they awaited placement in a more permanent setting. This was an especially pressing need at the time to ensure that ChildNet and Broward did not ever have a child stay overnight in an unlicensed setting, a problem that at the time was besetting Community Based Care lead agencies elsewhere in the state. However, during the past year increased local success in the recruitment of appropriate foster homes and the long-awaited licensing of ChildNet's intake center, SafePlace, made this a less pressing community need.

Subsequent to its purchase, the property was extensively remodeled with a generous grant from the Broward County Government and general community support as well as former ChildNet board chair Ginny Miller and was officially christened "Miller House" in 2008.

The true beauty of Miller House, and its ownership by Broward Care for Kids, is that it allowed ChildNet the flexibility to shift its use to a more current and pressing need, the care in a familial setting of foster care youth with especially challenging developmental disabilities.

The slideshow samples some of our exterior and interior work.