How Children’s Harbor Helps Broward Teens
I sit down with Fort Lauderdale’s own Vanessa Seltzer from Children’s Harbor in Pembroke Pines to talk about what foster care really looks like in Broward County, from teens “aging out” at 18 to the Browns Harbor apartments that give them a real shot at adulthood. We get specific about how local families, businesses and neighbors can step in with gift cards, workshops and support that truly breaks cycles instead of just putting on a Band‑Aid.
I had a powerful conversation with Children’s Harbor Chief Development Officer, and Fort Lauderdale local, Vanessa Seltzer about what foster care really looks like in Broward County, far from the postcard beaches most of us picture when we think about South Florida. We talked about the thousands of kids in Florida’s foster care system, the teens who have bounced through 20 different placements before landing at Children’s Harbor’s eight‑acre, family‑style campus in Pembroke Pines and what it means for them to “age out” at 18 with no safety net.
Vanessa walked me through how Children’s Harbor runs two campuses, including Browns Harbor’s affordable apartments for 18 to 23 year olds who still get life coaching, mental health support and a boutique where they can pick out furniture and clothes for their first real place. We dug into their family strengthening program that steps into real Broward homes after loss, job changes or trauma to keep kids out of foster care, and we talked about simple ways you and your business can help, from monthly gift card drives and mock interviews to hosting workshops on LinkedIn, taxes, credit and entrepreneurship. We also highlighted the Harbor Social at Palm Garden in East Broward, a June 25 event where your ticket turns directly into mission support so Children’s Harbor can keep kids safe, stable and seen as more than just a statistic.
Chapters
- 00:27 Foster Care in Broward
- 02:41 Inside Children’s Harbor
- 06:49 Aging Out Explained
- 11:59 Family Strengthening Support
- 15:46 Ways to Get Involved
- 20:18 Workshops and Career Paths
- 23:02 Harbor Social Event
- 25:50 Breaking the Foster Care Stigma
=== Guest: Vanessa Seltzer, Children’s Harbor
=== People Mentioned
- Tiffany Dhooge (CEO), Children’s Harbor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanidhooge/
- Nicholas Sproul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-sproul-pa-srs-clhms-62672347/
- Cadence Real Estate Group: https://cadencerealtor-xdvumtih.manus.space/
- DCF (Florida Department of Children and Families): https://www.myflfamilies.com
- ChildNet: Website: https://www.childnet.usdnet
- Palm Garden Event House: https://www.palmgardenevents.com
=== Events / Attractions / Venues
- Harbor Social presented by Cadence: https://app.betterunite.com/childrensharbor-harborsocialpresentedbycadence
=== MUSIC LICENSE CERTIFICATE
- Title: Happy Epic And Confident Corporate Background Piece To Suit Health Or Dynamic
- Item ID: 195889930
- Publisher: Saowakhon Brown
- Composer: Saowakhon Brown
- License: Individual License, Commercial
- Stock Media provided by TheSaoLady / Pond5
Website: https://www.letstalklauderdale.com/
Let’s Talk Lauderdale is hosted by Marvin Bee & Jen Stewart.
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