Forty Carrots and Sarasota County Jail Partnership to Benefit from $19,000 Grant

January 27, 2021 – Sarasota

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has approved an Equity and Access grant to Forty Carrots Family Center in the amount of $19,039 to support Parenting Education at the Sarasota County Jail. With funding provided by the George J. & Alice Pugh Donor Advised Fund, the grant builds on Forty Carrots’ commitment to provide parenting education and support to all parents.

Forty Carrots Parenting Educators are using Circle of Security® Parenting™, an international, evidence-based parenting program, within the Sarasota County Jail facility. Circle of Security aims to teach parents how to understand and support their child’s emotions, enhance the development of the child’s self-esteem, and honor the child’s desire to be secure. Studies show that the children of incarcerated parents face a multitude of life challenges, everything from antisocial behavior, poor grades, psychological problems, homelessness and their own experience within the criminal justice system.  

“Research proves that having a strong parent/child relationship can mitigate the multitude of negative effects for children with an incarcerated parent. Breaking the cycle for the next generation is the ultimate purpose of the program.” said Michelle Kapreilian, Forty Carrots CEO.

One participant wrote, “I am working on myself with the tools that I have learned from the program. I see my child in a different light, and relationships with my children are better as a result of this class.” 

“The sheriff’s office is both proud of this partnership and grateful to Forty Carrots for implementing a program that is both proactive and engaging. Comments like this demonstrate the program’s value and how it has shifted the mindset of many of our participants.” said Corrections Lieutenant, Arlene Tracy.

Since 1993, Forty Carrots Family Center has served families in Sarasota & Manatee counties, ensuring good beginnings that last a lifetime for children through its expertise in Parenting Education, Mental Health Services, and Early Childhood Education. Rated 4-Stars by Charity Navigator, Forty Carrots serves families from all walks of life, with 95 percent of families receiving services free of charge. Visit www.fortycarrots.org  for more information.

About the Community Foundation of Sarasota County: The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. With assets of $421 million in more than 1,500 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $48.9 million dollars last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and the environment. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $323 million to area nonprofit organizations to our community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families, and businesses.

For more information, visit www.CFSarasota.org or call (941) 955-3000.