News & Updates

Foster youth experience a unique set of challenges as they navigate the transitions inherent in the foster care system. Amidst the uncertainties and upheavals, houseparents serve as beacons of stability and support, guiding these young individuals through the...

PRESS RELEASE (Jackson, Mississippi) As Mississippi and the nation mark the week of April 21 as Crime Victims’ Rights Week, Attorney General Fitch gathered with partners, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi, and Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic...

Each year an estimated 20,000 youth in transition exit the foster care system. National statistics report that 25% are immediately homeless, 70% enter the criminal justice system within 5 years, less than 3% obtain any type of degree, 70% remain unemployed.  As a...

Case managers play an important role in the foster care system for several reasons, especially at Sunnybrook where transition planning is a critical link for adult youth left searching for safety, stability, care, and a chance for a brighter future. Growing up just 10...

Evidence-based programs and interventions provide stability and valuable resources for young adults aging out of foster care to help them successfully navigate this critical phase of their lives. Many 16–24-year-olds aging out of the foster care system encounter...

Foster and adoptive families reconnect by unplugging and enjoying a weekend of respite at Sunset Hill, a unique Sunnybrook Cares program. A New Vision for Sunset Hill Foster parents have a difficult, but necessary job. They provide a home for children and youth that...

Easy Tweet: .@Sunnybrook_CH is pleased to join a select group of Eligible Transitional Home Organization’s (ETHO) now qualified to participate in @MSDeptofRevenue’s new tax credits available for businesses & individuals. RIDGELAND, MS - July 2023 - Sunnybrook...

In 2014 the U.S. Senate declared June as National PTSD Awareness Month, a disease that impacts 25% of our foster care youth often stemming from histories of abuse, trauma, and neglect. At the age of five, Kenny Spansel knew he was different. His speech impediment...

After shifting its focus from young foster children to transitional-age teens and young adults in 2019, Sunnybrook is pleased to announce the results of its first impact survey, with results that exceed state and national foster care benchmarks. According to the...

Launching a new foster care program for adolescents might seem daunting for some, but not for Executive Director Myrle Grate. When asked to lead the charge he accepted the challenge without question. Grate embarked on his calling at Sunnybrook three years ago when he...

At the age of 13, Tim Waldrop's world turned upside down when his mother passed away, leaving him and his five younger brothers without a caretaker.  Shortly after entering the care of Child Protective Services, he and his brothers were referred to Sunnybrook, a...

Sunnybrook is thrilled to announce the 60th anniversary of its founding, a milestone that marks six decades of providing safe and nurturing homes for foster children and their families. Since its inception as a nonprofit ministry in 1963, Sunnybrook’s staff,...

PRESS RELEASE Attorney General Lynn Fitch today announced that nearly $2.5 million from the Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund will be distributed to nine organizations who help human trafficking victims become survivors....

At first glance, his name tag says it all: Mo Ghaffarian, Maintenance Manager.  His job is to repair anything and everything that breaks at Sunnybrook, a transitional living home that supports and guides foster adolescents in Mississippi. After nearly 60 years of...

After months of planning, preparation and prayer, there was much to celebrate when Sunnybrook residents returned from their first Carolina Point Young Life camp experience.  Young Life provides a five-star camping experience, packed with summer fun, and a message...

The promise of another school year is upon us, and the youth at Sunnybrook are preparing for their next academic adventure. As they look ahead to a new class schedule with new teachers, the opportunity for a brighter, more educated future has the power to alter the...

Swaying back and forth on the porch swing in the backyard of her teenage home, Deondra Willis reflected on her experience at Sunnybrook, a residential campus supporting foster youth ages 16-24. Her journey began five years ago when she found herself standing in front...

Close your eyes and imagine crackling fires, sweet treats, the aroma of sunscreen, cooling off in the water, and creating lifelong memories. Summer camp engages all five senses in a way that can truly change your life. The close friendships, newfound skills and...