There are approximately 2000 youth currently in foster care in Miami-Dade County. The statistics regarding outcomes of children who have been in the foster care system have long shown systemic failure and overall inattention for the lives of children who have suffered physical, sexual or emotional abuse and neglect including human trafficking. In the life of every child, there should be at least one adult that provides safety, stability and love. Unfortunately, over 2,000 children in Miami-Dade County don’t have someone to fill this role so they have been placed in foster care. Voices For Children’s support enables the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program to safeguard the best interest of children in foster care in dependency court proceedings. This is the only program that provides this type of caring and objective voice in court. Guardians ad Litem make sure children are not lost in an overburdened legal and social service system or languish in an inappropriate home or shelter. Voices’ financial support also helps fulfill the children’s medical, educational, and social needs. Additionally, Voices For Children provides direct financial support to this vulnerable population through our Children’s Needs Program. which supplements insufficient State and Federal entitlements. By addressing basic needs such as food, clothing, rent/utility assistance, furniture, transportation, etc., Voices helps ease social and financial hardships. The program also provides funds for educational, social and other enrichment needs such as: -School Uniforms/Supplies -Tutoring -After School Care -Extracurricular Activities • Summer Camp -Senior Year Activities Through advocacy and direct financial support, Voices helps youth secure access to what each one needs to achieve meaningful social and emotional self-sufficiency and ultimately success. And the support we provide is one on one and unconditional. We show up and we fight for these youth to have every opportunity to become a success as opposed to a statistic. Every purchase at Peppermint Park contributes much needed resources to helping Voices for Children’s amazing cause.