Oct. 8, 2026 — Sunshine Health, a company of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), has awarded $100,000 in grants for innovative programs that support caregivers of children and youth with behavioral health challenges and complex needs.
Four nonprofits received $25,000 each for their proposed evidence-based, trauma-informed programs for foster, adoptive, and kinship parents and caregivers. Each grantee will help parents and caregivers build the skills and confidence needed to create safe, supportive, and healing-centered home environments, reducing the likelihood of placement disruptions and promoting long-term stability.
Grantees will implement a trauma-informed, relationship-based approach that equips caregivers with practical strategies to support children and youth who have experienced abuse, neglect, and other adverse experiences. The approach emphasizes building trust, strengthening connections, and responding to emotional and behavioral needs in ways that promote healing, resilience, and well-being.
“We are honored to support these grant winners’ innovative programs that will strengthen families and improve the lives of vulnerable children,” said Charlene Zein, president and CEO of Sunshine Health.
Grant winners:
| Organization | Location/Reach | Services Provided |
| Citrus Family Care Network | Miami
(Serves Miami-Dade and Monroe counties) |
Citrus Family Care Network is the Community-Based Care (CBC) lead agency for Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, overseeing the full child-welfare continuum, including prevention, foster care, adoption, reunification, and family preservation services. |
| Family Initiative | Cape Coral (Serves primarily Southwest Florida) | Focuses on the family system as the primary driver of a child’s growth. Provides clinical, social‑emotional, and child‑welfare supports for children, especially those with autism or a history of trauma.
|
| Florida 1.27 | Tampa
(Serves Hillsborough County) |
Trains and supports Christian families who want to be engaged in foster care, with a focus on compassion, best practices, and trauma-informed approaches.
|
| Kids First of Florida | Orange Park
(Serves Clay County) |
Kids First of Florida is the Community-Based Care agency for Clay County, with a focus that includes child-protection care management, foster care support, and adoption services. |
For Florida 1.27, the funding will allow children to “have greater opportunities to experience safety, trust, healing, and hope,” said Brian Strawser, Florida 1.27 president. “We are honored to partner with Sunshine Health in this important work.”
The grants are funded through the Sunshine Health Investment Fund, which supports community organizations, providers, and child welfare partners to improve outcomes for children and families. Funding helps address critical needs such as orthodontic care, emergency assistance, caregiver training, and innovative programs that strengthen support systems and help children and families thrive.
“The grant will strengthen caregiver resilience, promote placement stability, and expand access to early mental health advocacy and intervention for hundreds of children and families across our community,” said Leigh Ann Drew, statewide director of child welfare for Family Initiative. “We are honored to advance this critical work and grateful for Sunshine Health’s partnership in building stronger, more resilient families.”
About Sunshine Health
With offices across Florida, Sunshine Health is among the largest healthcare plans in Florida. Offering coordinated care and a network of support for our members, Sunshine Health is transforming the health of the community, one person at a time. We offer government-sponsored managed care through Medicaid, Long Term Care, the Health Insurance Marketplace (Ambetter Health), and Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans (Wellcare). Our specialty plans include the Sunshine Health Pathway to Shine Specialty Plan serving children in or adopted from the state’s Child Welfare system; the Sunshine Health Mindful Pathways Specialty Plan for people living with serious mental illness; and the Sunshine Health Power to Thrive Specialty Plan for people living with HIV/AIDS. Sunshine Health is a Centene Corporation company. For more information, visit SunshineHealth.com or follow us on Facebook and X @SunHealthFL.
