We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kelli Bock. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kelli below.

Kelli, appreciate you joining us today. Along with taking care of clients, taking care of our team is one of the most important things we can do as leaders. Looking back on your journey, did you have a boss that was really great? Maybe you can tell us about that boss and what made them a wonderful person to work for?

Jerry Pitzer began our advocate program years before we became a non-profit organization. I remember him asking me to join the team when I had zero ambition in being involved in the business world. I was a foster mother with a lot of passion for change, but I had no voice in the grand scheme of it all. He brought me on with little to no knowledge of the statutes and laws of Florida. I had a mere three years under my belt of being a foster parent (compared to his 20+), and I was surrounded by folks whom had climbed the ladders for decades. He didn’t train me, at all (or so I thought). He allowed my passion for children and families lead me to the next steps, and he guided me along the way. Our conversations about cases challenged my way of thinking, and without being obvious, he was paving the way to make better decisions and outside the box solutions for others. Several years later, the mission remains the same, and I can see how he did train me to think and execute in a way that wouldn’t be covered by a book or classroom. The methods and critical thinking skills that I gained have been invaluable as I still navigate the ever evolving system of foster care.

Kelli, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a family advocate for the non-profit, FACT, Inc. That is short for Foster Adoptive Caregiver Team. Our motto has been, “We serve those whom serve our community’s children.” Basically, if a family or child has been involved in foster care (or adoption), we walk alongside those families in whatever they may need. Sometimes, it is as simple as advice or being the listening, but it could be as complicated as experiencing loss or mental health needs. Our entire team has lived and breathed the system in our own homes. We are able to offer a vantage point of knowing what it’s like to have “been there and done that,” with having over a combined 60 years of experience with over 300 kids in and out of our care. The system can be overwhelming and disheartening. There are a lot of times where it can feel unfair and dark. However, many times throughout the year, FACT is able to hold special events with community partners for these children and their families. Being able to talk with other parents, seeing the carefree expressions on kids faces, or even seeing siblings reunite for an afternoon of fun is what keeps me going. I absolutely love coming through for these kids. I cannot express enough what it does for my soul to see them succeed and overcome extremely difficult circumstances. I look at it like this: I cannot possibly have all of these children in my own home, but I can serve each home that they’re in and make a difference. Having other community partners experience the same thing, is a privilege.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Being a non-profit our reputation has been built on trust, results, and word of mouth amongst the community and within the system of foster care. Not only do we work alongside the lead foster care agency in our tri-county area, we are working alongside the caregivers, as well. There is a huge level of trust established that we are going to be leading others in the right directions. We won’t be misguiding families with wrong information, and we won’t be building walls between workers and families (most times we build bridges). We also have established trust with our community partners and donors. They know that their efforts and funding will be going to families and children. Our focus has always been the children and their best interests. I believe that they see that once they get involved. We don’t get lost in the weeds, and I think that people value that about us.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Our entire team is made up of people that have been involved in foster care. Currently, I’m the only one still licensed, but they all have spent over a decade being foster parents, and they have all adopted children from foster care, as well. We met being involved in our local foster parent association (Orange Seminole Foster Children Association), and three of them already were independently contracted by the lead agency as Foster Family Advocates in Orange County. There was a space available on their team for a lead advocate for Seminole County, and to make a long story short, I applied and received the position. We worked closely together for several years prior to forming FACT, Inc in 2018.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.facthelp.org
• Instagram: @fact_advocates
• Facebook: FACT Foster Adoptive Caregiver Team (www.facebook.com/FACThelp