This June, in recognition of National Reunification Month, All Star Children’s Foundation is celebrating families who are working to come back together, children who long for home, and the dedicated caregivers and professionals making that journey possible.

In foster care, reunification is not just a goal—it’s a guiding principle. Removing a child from their home is a last resort, often representing a moment of crisis for a family. At All Star, we believe that with the right support, many of these families can be restored.

“Reunification is more than a plan, it’s about belonging, safety, and love,” said Dr. Kristin Hoffman, Ph.D., Chief Program Officer at All Star. “When children can reunify with their parents safely, that’s a powerful expression of healing. Our role is to walk alongside children and families as they work to become whole again.”

Through our trauma-informed model of care, All Star is committed to supporting families from the moment a child is placed in foster care.

On our Campus of Hope and Healing, children and their parents receive mental health services that go beyond checklists and compliance—they’re rooted in compassion, resilience, and the belief that people can change, especially with support.

National Reunification Month is a time to reflect on what permanency really means. It’s about giving children the chance to return to safe, loving homes—and giving families the tools to create those homes again.

Read more about All Star’s Birth Family Engagement Program

Above: All Star Chief Program Officer Kristin Hoffman, Ph.D. and Clinical Director Chelsea Hernandez, LCSW represented us at the FSU Florida Institute of Child Welfare “Together for Families” Conference, and at the Child Welfare League of America Conference in Washington DC.

At All Star, we know that healing grows when knowledge is shared. Over the past few months, our team has been out in the community—and welcoming others onto our campus—offering trauma-informed training and sharing the impact of our unique model of care.

In April, All Star staff represented at the Child Welfare League of America in Washington DC, where they

connected with leaders from across the country to share ideas, learn, and strengthen the future of foster care. While in D.C., they also visited the offices of Congressman Greg Steube and Congressman Aaron Bean to advocate for children and families involved in the foster care system.

This June, we were proud to present at the Florida FAPA Conference, where we attended as well as had the honor of presenting on “Understanding Intergenerational Trauma to Strengthen Foster & Biological Parent Relationships.” We also spoke at the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Florida Annual Conference, sharing how trauma screenings and assessments are helping shape brighter outcomes for kids in foster care.

Back on our Campus of Hope and Healing, we’ve continued to host impactful training sessions for local professionals, caregivers, and community partners—building a stronger network of support for children and families. This week, we are hosting the second 3-day installment of an EMDR intensive training in collaboration with Connected EMDR for 40 clinicians in our region.

Later this summer, we will train over 300 Safe Children Coalition staff in our “Trauma Informed Toolkit.”

Every training, every conversation, every connection brings us one step closer to a future where every child feels safe, supported, and seen.

📲 Follow along on Instagram @allstarchildren to see where we’re headed next.

Above: All Star welcomes Clare Price and John Hoskins to our Board of Directors; Mason and friends enjoy a going away party in the clubhouse; GFWC Woman’s Club of Sarasota donates birthday in a bag; Temple Emanu-El created inspiring rock art for our butterfly garden for Mitzvah Day; 105.3 ZETA hosted All Star to share our mission en español; AquaShine Car Wash opening with proceeds generously benefitting All Star.