Miami Bridge Youth & Family Services’ Jimmy Brown was honored as Youth Care Worker of the Year by the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services at its annual awards luncheon held on Thursday, May 11, 2017. This year the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services celebrated its 40^th anniversary by recognizing those who dedicate their days to providing exceptional care to at-risk youth, creating safe pathways toward their future.

Jimmy Brown took home Youth Care Worker of the Year for his devotion and dedication to bettering the lives of youth who walk through the doors of Miami Bridge Youth & Family Services. Jimmy’s passion and dedication to the agency and the youth he serves has no bounds. His role as ambassador and fundraiser for Miami Bridge helped secure assistance from Nike, raising $10,000 for the organization last year.

“Both our staff and our youth wholeheartedly agree that Jimmy is our rock! He epitomizes the philosophy, values and mission of our agency, and is a valued member of our team,” stated Baldwin Davis, Chief Admin. Compliance Officer.

Known for his kind smile and engaging presence, Jimmy warmly welcomes traumatized youth who enter Miami Bridge. His dedication, compassion and patience have also lead to his being recently selected to become a certified trainer in the Youth Care Professional Certification Program. Developed by the University of Oklahoma, the curriculum focuses on the following topics: developing a caring culture, understanding child development, building relationships and teaching discipline. Jimmy is currently developing a training implementation plan for certification of all youth activity workers.

About Miami Bridge Youth & Family Services, Inc.

Miami Bridge was established in 1985 and serves as Miami-Dade County’s only 24-hour emergency shelter for children and teens in crisis ages 10-17. For more than 30 years, the non-profit organization has worked to rescue youth in the community from lives of victimization and crime by providing refuge, protection and specialized care in a nurturing, stable environment. Annually, Miami Bridge shelters more than 600 children and teens, providing over 10,000 care days for those individuals, as well as counseling to more than 550 families with children ages 6-17. For additional information, please visit www.miamibridge.org.