Mission and Vision
The Sylvia Thomas Center keeps the “forever” in forever families by providing adoptive and foster children and families the necessary tools and supports to enable them to bond and thrive.
About
Since 2000, the Sylvia Thomas Center has served thousands of adoptive and foster families.
In Memory of Sylvia Thomas
Sylvia Thomas was a trailblazer among child welfare professionals in Hillsborough County, Florida. Dedicated to families, she championed the need to ensure permanency in family relationships for the adoptive and foster families in her charge.
Sylvia tirelessly worked in her community to help dependent and displaced children and their families overcome obstacles, evolve together, and grow as a family should. Sylvia made herself available to families as a listener, supporter, assistant, and advisor. She solved everyday challenges that adoptive and foster families and children face.
Following her untimely death in 2000, friends and colleagues chose to honor her memory by creating a safe place for adoptive and foster families to share their struggles and their successes. From that vision, the Sylvia Thomas Center was born.
As a 501(c)(3) organization, STC continues to operate free of charge to families by receiving funding from Children’s Network of Hillsborough (our local community-based care lead agency), corporate foundations, civic organizations, and private donors and volunteers.
Children and families of the Sylvia Thomas Center contributed squares to make this quilt representing the Forever Families we serve.
Helping Adoptive Families
For over 20 years, we have been making an impact on the lives of adoptive families, working together to overcome obstacles and address behavioral challenges. We are committed to supporting families who are on their adoption journey to identify and manage threats to permanency. This may include counseling and other supports to address the experiences the children have had with abuse, abandonment, neglect and other challenges to the attachment.
Since its inception, The Sylvia Thomas Center for Adoptive and Foster Families and its volunteers have touched the lives of over 6,000 children and families. Over 300 children have received intensive case management services including family and individual therapy. Our ultimate goal is to help families remain intact.
Without the generosity of our donors, partners, and community – especially the support we receive from Children’s Network of Hillsborough – we could not do what we do. To learn more about the Sylvia Thomas Center, call (813) 651-3150.