MONROE COUNTY, FL — Wesley House Family Services is actively seeking compassionate community members to become licensed foster parents. With only seven licensed foster homes currently in Monroe County, the need is critical - especially for teenagers and sibling groups.
 
“Our goal is to double that number by the end of the year,” said Lindsey Betterman, Foster Parenting Licensing Coordinator at Wesley House. “Every child deserves to stay in their community, go to their school, stay on their sports team, and keep their friendships - even when they’re going through something as tough as entering foster care.”
 
As a former foster parent herself, Betterman speaks from experience: “It’s probably the single most wonderful thing you can do. Helping a child succeed - whether that’s getting an A in school or reuniting safely with their family - is an unmatched joy.”
 
The next round of pre-service foster parent training classes begins August 14 and runs for eight weeks, meeting virtually each Thursday evening from 6 – 9 p.m. These classes are required for licensing and are open to anyone 21 or older who can pass a background check and provide a safe home environment.
 
“You don’t need to be perfect - you just need to be present,” Betterman emphasized. “It truly only takes one consistent, caring adult to change a child’s entire life.”
 
For more information or to register for training, contact Lindsey Betterman at 305.809.5020.

Wesley House Family Services is seeking nurturing families interested in providing a loving home to children and teens who are in the foster care system. Classes begin on June 15th at the Wesley House Key Largo office, 99451 Overseas Hwy., Ste. 200, and will be held for eight weeks from 6 - 9 pm. Registration is required. The class uses the Creating and Retaining Excellence (C.A.R.E.) curriculum.

There is a great need for foster parents in the Upper Keys. If you can offer love and support to a child, you can be a foster parent! By providing a nurturing and caring home environment to the most vulnerable children in Monroe County, you can make a difference in your community!
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To register or for more information call Megan Burgess at 305-809-5020 or e-mail [email protected]. 

April 3, 2023, marked the first day for the Wesley House Family Services’ new Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Khalilah Dawes. She succeeds Tiffany DaSilva, Community Based Care Director.

Khalilah Dawes has over 20 years of experience in child welfare. She began her career in child welfare as a case manager for the Florida Department of Children and Families, working directly with children who were abused, abandoned, or neglected. She successfully transitioned to the private sector where she has held various leadership positions in child welfare operations. Ms. Dawes has consistently been promoted to leadership roles with increasing levels of responsibilities, reflecting her results-driven and outcome-oriented style of management. As the Assistant Director of Full Case Management with the Center for Family and Child Enrichment Administrator her responsibilities included implementing strategies for the delivery of effective child abuse prevention and intervention programs and services for children and families in Miami- Dade County.

Ms. Dawes brings a wealth of experience in prevention and child welfare program operations. Her previous position was Regional Administrator of Permanency with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Her responsibilities included policy implementation, planning, developing, and coordinating service delivery for Cook County. 

Ms. Dawes is a graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology. She also holds a master’s in public administration from Florida International University. She enjoys coaching and developing her team and is a firm believer that this approach leads to overall organizational success.
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Aleida Jacobo, Wesley House Family Services CEO, said “Khalilah joins us at time of expansion in which her many talents, knowledge, and experience, not to mention her deep roots in South Florida, will be a highly prized asset to our agency.” This exciting chapter in Ms. Dawes’ career brings her back to Florida which has been home for more than thirty years, and specifically to Key West, a place reminiscent of her parents’ birthplace, Jamaica. 

​Holiday Helpers is a massive, Keys-wide toy drive that benefits six nonprofits with a goal of 2500 new toys by December 1st. The toy drive is organized by Wesley House Family Services so that each agency is not doing their own individual toy drive, and to make it cohesive for the public. For 2022, the toys will be shared with Wesley House, Early Learning Coalition, SOS Foundation, Kids Come First, The Guidance Care Center, and Samuel’s House. Every toy adds up! Please visit www.WesleyHouse.org/HolidayHelpers to shop the Amazon List or leave a toy in one of the collection boxes at 40 locations throughout the Keys. For more information contact Grace Epperly at 305.809.5000.