The CHARLEE Program is an outgrowth of the highly successful Youth Advocacy Program of the Menninger Foundation of Topeka, Kansas, and is the culmination of over 30 years of studying and providing for abused and neglected children.

The primary mission and philosophy of CHARLEE Family Care services of Central Florida, Inc., is to provide a healthy and safe family environment for those children placed in our care. CHARLEE also offers the opportunity for these children to mature into well adjusted, responsible and productive members of our society through our services, support, care and commitment.

CHARLEE Family Care Services of Central Florida operates five{5} Residential foster care homes caring for six to seven adjudicated dependent children between the ages of six and eighteen, in a family style living arrangement. All the children at CHARLEE are here because they have been abused, neglected and in some cases abandoned. A significant percentage of these
children are also in need of mental health services. Many have exhibited an inability to succeed in the foster care system and a few of them have lived for periods of time on their own in the “streets” as part of the homeless population.

CHARLEE employs family care parents who live in the homes on a full time basis and assume the role of parents for the children. A therapist and caseworker are assigned to work with up to fifteen (15) clients. The goal of these homes is to provide quality care that promotes a positive, nurturing environment for stabilization and growth of the children.

CHARLEE was originally a part of a 63 nationwide network of foster care homes for abused, neglected and abandoned children. However, in 1985 each geographic area was asked to assume responsibility for establishing its own legal entity for the purpose of managing assets and overseeing programmatic issues.

As a result Friends of CHARLEE (now Friends of Children and Families) was established as the asset management corporation for CHARLEE Family Care Services of Central Florida, Inc. Assets include land, homes and vehicles. These assets, in turn, are leased to CHARLEE. Friends of Children and Families is a not for profit 501 c (3) corporation.

Currently at least 85% of the CHARLEE budget is used for direct care services for the children in our five family homes.

In addition to caring for foster children CHARLEE provides family counseling at seven Orange County Neighborhood Centers. This service is funded by Orange County’s Citizens Commission for Children

Thank you for you interest in the CHARLEE Family.

CEO Cyril Sheppard

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