Devereux Florida foster families celebrate the season at ‘Camp Holiday Cheer’

Devereux Florida and Central Florida Lifestyle Publications teamed up to help make holiday wishes come true for Devereux Florida foster families at the organizations’ second annual “Camp Holiday Cheer.”

Nearly 300 foster parents and children gathered at the Pines at Windermere, a lakefront recreational facility near Orlando, Fla., in December for an evening of fun and festivities.

Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Florida and Central Florida Lifestyle Publications recently teamed up to help make holiday wishes come true for Devereux Florida foster families at the organizations’ second annual “Camp Holiday Cheer.”

Nearly 300 foster parents and children gathered at the Pines at Windermere, a lakefront recreational facility near Orlando, Fla., in December for an evening of fun and festivities.

“The holiday season can be a painful time of year for children in foster care who will not be home for the holidays with their biological families,” said Devereux Florida Director of External Affairs Lindsey Phillips. “Thanks to our friends at Central Florida Lifestyle Publications, and our other wonderful and generous community supporters, we were able to spread joy, and give these families cherished memories to last a lifetime.”

Capturing the magic of the season

Holiday spirit was in the air at Camp Holiday Cheer, as carolers from Montverde Academy and dancers from Ready, Set, Dance entertained the crowd. Families played games and gathered around a fire pit to share stories and roast marshmallows. Children even had the chance to meet a bull from Suhls Rodeo and safely hold a small alligator from Gatorland.

For many, the highlight of the evening was when Santa Claus arrived by boat and took photos with the children.

“We wanted to make the holiday season special for our foster children and the families that are providing them with safe, loving homes,” explained Phillips. “Hearing the kids laugh as they played games and seeing their faces light up when they saw Santa warmed everyone’s heart, and reminded us of what the holidays are all about.”

View a video featuring highlights from Devereux Florida’s 2019 Camp Holiday Cheer. Learn more about Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Florida.

Latest News

		Autism Journey article features Devereux’s Amy Kelly: "The unexpected, invisible gifts of COVID-19 and autism" Read this Autism Journey article featuring Devereux National Director of Family Engagement Amy Kelly, MBA, MNM, as she shares four things she learned to embrace during the pandemic, while raising a daughter with autism.
		Going for a spin? Devereux’s full-service Bike Shop offers bicycle repairs and sales Looking to get back on your bike and go for a ride this spring? The Shops at Devereux’s Bike Shop, part of Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Pennsylvania - Adult Services’ vocation training program, repairs and services bicycles, and also sells refurbished bikes.
		Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health’s Texas and California centers receive $20,000 worth of Personal Protective Equipment from LifeToGo Devereux has announced it received a donation of more than $20,000 worth of life-saving Personal Protective Equipment, including face masks and hand sanitizer, from LifeToGo, a curated, lifestyle marketplace and health and wellness community.
		Devereux Pennsylvania CIDDS students collect donations for food bank Students at Devereux Pennsylvania are learning the importance of giving back to the community. Youth enrolled in Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services Learning Center recently held a food drive on campus to support the Chester County Food Bank.
		Devereux Pocono team members discuss the center’s programs/services on Radio.com’s Special Edition podcast Listen as Devereux Pocono Clinical Director Michelle Wonders, Psy.D., and Admissions Director John Gething discuss the center’s programs and services, including Devereux Pocono’s new therapeutic foster care program, on Radio.com’s Special Edition podcast. Wonders and Gething explain how the foster care program can help at-risk youth thrive.
		Celebrating Devereux’s Healthcare Heroes: Spotlight on Devereux Florida Medical Director Manal Durgin At Devereux, our employees are at the heart of everything we do - and are key to our success. Learn how Devereux Florida Medical Director Manal Durgin is serving and inspiring others every day.
		Devereux Center for Effective Schools helps implement social-emotional learning in Pennsylvania schools The Devereux Center for Effective Schools is partnering with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services in southeastern Pennsylvania to promote social and emotional learning (SEL) in the classroom. CES is working with HHS to provide training, coaching and technical assistance to teachers and other school professionals in Montgomery County school districts as they implement SEL curricula and evidence-based classroom management practices.
		Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health partners with Netsmart to implement innovative platform to streamline care coordination; interoperability Devereux has announced it will partner with Netsmart to deploy a portfolio of solutions and services to drive innovation and collaboration across the organization. This partnership also will enhance programs for, and communications with, the 25,000 individuals and families the nonprofit serves annually.