Photo courtesy of Forty Carrots Family Center.

Manatee Community Foundation awarded Forty Carrots Family Center a grant of $10,000 to pilot its Welcome to Our World® parenting education group in Manatee County at Little Discovery Center. This grant, supporting caregivers with infants, is made possible through the Bishop-Parker Foundations Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation. “We are pleased to support the pilot project of Welcome to Our World® parenting education group. This grant reflects our commitment to improving the outcomes of caregivers and infants in our community and invests in the critical early months of life” said Jennifer Abbott, Manatee Community Foundation’s Interim Executive Director. With this generous support, Forty Carrots is able to expand its longstanding WOW program into Manatee County. WOW increases parents’ knowledge of infant development teaches skills/strategies for common concerns and reduces feelings of isolation, a known risk for abuse and neglect. In turn, parent/baby relationships strengthen, ensuring baby’s safety and optimal development. “In Manatee County, 18% of children removed from their homes are under the age of one, indicating a desperate need for support for caregivers with infants. WOW focuses on engaging parents and infants together, providing vital time for parents to bond with their babies and increase their knowledge of infant development and build a community of support among participants—thus, reducing the risk of abuse and neglect,” said Michelle Kapreilian, Forty Carrots’ CEO.

Photo courtesy of Forty Carrots Family Center.