Forty Carrots Fuels Strategic Growth Amidst Rising Child Welfare Need

The majority of children in Sarasota and Manatee counties begin their lives at a disadvantage and one organization caring for these families has a new opportunity to address their needs.

“Despite serving more than 2,400 families last year, we still had to turn away over 400 families because we are operating at capacity,” said Michelle Kapreilian, Forty Carrots Family Center CEO.

Poverty and early traumatic experiences make a child more likely to experience damaging developmental effects and physical and mental health issues. Locally 52 percent of babies are born into poverty, according to data from First 1,000 Days Sarasota County, a local initiative dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of mothers and babies.

“For all families, access to high quality parenting education, mental health services, and early education can mitigate negative outcomes caused by toxic stress, poverty, abuse, and other adverse environments,” Kapreilian said.

In response, a flexible $300,000 grant from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation has positioned Forty Carrots to increase services for families in Sarasota and Manatee counties with programs that have proven, lifelong positive effects.

“As we celebrate a milestone of helping more than 40,000 families since our founding, we are well positioned to meet the growing needs of our community. This partnership with the Barancik Foundation comes at a defining moment for Forty Carrots and will support new programs, staffing, and enhancements as needed to fill critical demand,” says Kapreilian.

Over the next three years, the organization will be taking a strategic look at the community’s needs and develop an action plan in order to expand their services and pursue other opportunities for growth.

“The whole community benefits from investing in early childhood programs,” says Teri A Hansen, President | CEO of Barancik Foundation. “Forty Carrots’ programs provide our most vulnerable, and our community, with better educational outcomes, improved health, greater economic growth and a civically engaged community.”