MIAMI GARDENS — The Center for Family and Child Enrichment Inc. (CFCE) one of the oldest and largest child welfare agencies in Miami Gardens has opened its Pediatric Health and Wellness Center.

Cutting the ribbon at the grand opening of the newest component to the 35-year-old agency was Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver G. Gilbert III, along with Miami Dade Chamber of Commerce President Bill Diggs, members of the Board of Directors, staff and other well-wishers.

The Pediatric Health and Wellness Center is located at CFCE’s Main Office, 1825 N.W. 167 St., Suite 108 in Miami Gardens and will serve the areas of Miami Gardens, Opa-locka and adjacent communities.

Children between to age 18 may be seen for physical examinations, routine wellness checkups, low acuity sick visits, immunizations as well as additional health issues.

Appointments may be scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays only between 2 – 7 p.m. Medicaid, Medicaid HMO’s insurances are accepted in addition to a low cost fee for service plan.

The center’s shows CFCE’s dedication to reaching all children in need of medical care, officials said.

“Our primary prevention and intervention one-stop walk-in pediatric health and wellness center will provide early diagnosis and treatment for physical and emotional trauma associated with child abuse and neglect by offering on-site comprehensive health related evaluation and treatment services in a timely manner to the underserved and at-risk children and their families”, said Ms. Delores Dunn, president and CEO of CFCE. “Health and Wellness is also an important part of CFCE’s overall strategy for providing care to children and families.”

The center also recently celebrated its 35th anniversary with its Unmask the Future Masquerade gala at the Miami Hotel Intercontinental. The event attracted more than 200 supporters who helped CFCE honor and recognize six prominent community leaders for their outstanding contributions to the community. 

This year’s honorees were retired Miami Gardens Councilman Aaron Campbell; Miami Gardens Chief of Police Matthew Boyd; the North Dade-Broward County Chapter of The Continental Societies, Inc.; Tom Fuhrman, CEO, Florida Bottling Company; the Miami Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; and The Continental Group residential management company.

The keynote address was delivered by Miami Gardens Seat 4 Councilwoman Felicia Robinson, who gave a fascinating talk sharing her personal experiences on foster care and child welfare. Lamar Sutton-Lewis, treasurer of the Board of Directors for the agency, presided as the master of ceremonies.

Attendees wearing extravagant masks for the evening danced the night away to the sounds of the Live Poets Society Band, who also chanted encouraging words befitting to an organization that for the past 35 years has touched the lives of thousands of children and families, delivering child welfare and mental health services to some of the population’s most vulnerable.

The gala also included silent auction items and best dressed and best masks contests.

Sponsors for this year’s event included First Bank of Florida, The Produce Connection, Publix Supermarkets, Humana, Jackson Lewis LLP, Resolve Marine, Aetna, Bank Atlantic, Brown & Brown of Florida, Florida Bottling Company, and retired Councilman Aaron Campbell. Proceeds will provide additional funds to continue to ensure that abandoned, neglected or abused children under the Center for Family and Child Enrichment Inc.’s care has their needs met. 

To make donations to help support programs and services at CFCE, contact Ingrid Stuart at istuart@cfceinc.org. For other information contact the center at 305-624-7450, extension 1803, or visit:   cfceinc.org