Foster Parents of the Year Award Presented to Children's Home Society of Florida Foster Parents

Release date: 10/29/2010

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Oct. 29, 2010)—Joe and Linda Acker, specialized therapeutic foster parents with Children’s Home Society of Florida’s Buckner Division, have been named Foster Parents of the Year by the Florida Coalition for Children, honoring the Ackers’ commitment to provide “more than just a healthy and safe place to live but also a friend and advocate to children in need.”

Offering stability and safety in a loving home, the Ackers, who’ve been foster parents for nine years, foster boys who’ve endured challenging pasts and outwardly express their anger in destructive manners. Working closely with caseworkers and therapists, the Ackers provide guidance, encouragement and structure necessary to help children work through their traumatic pasts and develop into responsible, well-mannered youth.

“Mr. and Mrs. Acker treat every child in their home as an important member of the family, and they make sure each one knows how special he is,” says Kymberly Cook, Executive Director of Children’s Home Society of Florida’s Buckner Division. “Whether they’re enjoying a meal together or cheering on one of the boys at a football game, the Ackers provide the family love many of these children have never before experienced.”

Along with modeling and encouraging respect and appropriate behaviors, the Ackers encourage children in their home to strengthen their relationships with siblings and to become involved in extracurricular activities, striving to bring a sense of normalcy to the boys’ lives.

In addition to the Ackers’ award, Florida Coalition for Children honored Children’s Home Society of Florida President and CEO David A. Bundy with the Lifetime Achievement Award and named Children’s Home Society of Florida Dependency Case Manager Lisa Coleman Dependency Case Manager of the Year.

No clients shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Clients needing accommodations for a disability and/or clients with special communications needs should contact their Children’s Home Society of Florida worker or make their request for accommodation at the time of admission into a Children’s Home Society of Florida program.

CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, REGISTRATION #CH180, IS REGISTERED WITH THE STATE UNDER THE SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS ACT. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.