News & Updates
Sunnybrook in 2026: Building Foster Community and Support
By Ron Veazey, Sunnybrook Interim Executive Director For more than six decades, Sunnybrook has existed for one purpose: to create safe, stable, and nurturing environments for children and youth who need them most. That mission has not changed. What is changing in 2026...
Opening the Road to Independence for Mississippi Foster Youth Through Driver’s Education
For most teenagers, learning to drive is something they look forward to for years. It means freedom, independence and the ability to go where they need to go without asking for a ride. But for many youth in foster care across Mississippi, getting a driver’s license is...
Expanding Support for Mississippi Families Through Foster Care Licensing
A New Chapter for Sunnybrook For more than 60 years, Sunnybrook Children’s Home has provided stability for Mississippi’s most vulnerable youth. “Now, with a new state license in hand, Sunnybrook is ready to expand that care to not only more children but also to...
Sunnybrook Awarded CPS Licensing Contract, Positioned as Model for Foster Care Reform in Mississippi
New designation expands foster care capacity while merging compassion and reform to meet one of the state’s greatest needs Sunnybrook Children’s Home has been awarded a contract by the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS) to serve as a licensed...
Senator Roger Wicker Celebrates Ric and Kim Jordan as an Angels in Adoption® Honoree to be Recognized at National Event in 2025
PRESS RELEASE Senator Roger Wicker will celebrate Ric and Kim Jordan as a 2025 Angels in Adoption® Honoree for their outstanding advocacy for foster children across Mississippi. The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), which coordinates the Angels in...
Sunnybrook Children’s Home Welcomes Interim Executive Director; National Search to Be Conducted
Ron brings invaluable experience and a deep commitment to Sunnybrook’s mission, having served as Director of Advancement through several record-setting years of growth and impact.
Fostering Hope 5K Unites Community to Support Mississippi’s Foster Youth
A Community United for Mississippi’s Foster Youth On a bright, sun-filled morning in Ridgeland, Mississippi, our community came together for a powerful cause — the inaugural Fostering Hope 5K Run/Walk. Over 100 participants of all ages and abilities laced up their...
Sunnybrook Announces Leadership Transition
Dear Friends of Sunnybrook, We’re writing to share some important news regarding a leadership transition at Sunnybrook. After more than six years of dedicated and effective service as Executive Director, Dr. Myrle Grate has accepted a new opportunity and will be...
Why Foster Youth Age Out, Not Up
Turning 18 Should Be Exciting—But for Foster Youth, It Often Means Facing the World Alone For most teenagers, turning 18 is a milestone to celebrate. It marks the transition from childhood to adulthood, filled with new opportunities—college, trade school, entering the...
Planting a ‘Garden of Hope’: How One Eagle Scout Candidate is Helping Residents See Their Worth
The space outside of the Education Center getting prepped for Linda’s Scout Troop to create a Garden of Hope for the residents of Sunnybrook.
How one Sunnybrook Alum Stayed Close to the Organization
Earlene Carson was 7 years old when she first came to Sunnybrook in the late 1960s. She, along with her twin sister and eight other siblings, were sent to Sunnybrook by the state of Mississippi while their parents worked on improving their home life. The...
Mississippi Pilot Program Offers Driver’s Education for Foster-Care Students
Sunnybrook Children’s Home offers a driver’s education course for its residents. Through a grant from the Mississippi Department of Child Protective Services, Sunnybrook is now expanding the program.
A Christmas Wish List for Transitional-Age Youth: What They Really Need
December often brings on a time of reflection and gratitude. It brings days like Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving that helps kick off the giving season, time with family and friends, shorter days and colder nights, gift-giving, and Christmas. As you gather with...
Giving the Gift of Education and Career Dreams this Christmas
Did you know 3% of foster youth earn a college degree by the age of 26, compared to 30% of their peers who are not in foster care? (Source: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago) That is a large gap considering there are about 369,000 children in foster care...
Landmark Driver’s Education Grant Puts Sunnybrook in the Driver’s Seat for Foster Youth Statewide
Nationally, current estimates suggest that only 3% of youth in the foster system receive their Driver’s Licenses while in care. Some advocates say that very few, or none, of the young adults they speak to have gotten licenses since exiting care. It’s a sobering...
Sunnybrook Expands Driver’s Ed Program for Foster Youth Statewide
Sunnybrook Children's Home is proud to announce the award of two significant contracts by the Mississippi Department of Child Protective Services (MDCPS) aimed at empowering foster youth across the state. These contracts are set to launch groundbreaking initiatives...
Sunnybrook Breaks Ground on ‘Renasant Bank Cottage’, the Sixth Residential Property on the Campus in Ridgeland
Earlier today, Sunnybrook Children’s Home celebrated the groundbreaking of 'Renasant Bank Cottage, the sixth residential campus property serving adolescent youth ages 14-21. The ceremony, hosted in partnership with the City of Ridgeland and Ridgeland Chamber of...
Youth at Sunnybrook Prepare for a Bright Future, Embracing Independence
With July 4th celebrations behind us, the campus of Sunnybrook is buzzing with excitement. The teens are eagerly anticipating the return to school in the fall. This time of year brings a renewed sense of hope, healing, and the promise of independence for the foster...