BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A Space Coast-based adoption and foster care agency is expanding — by a lot.

Brevard Family Partnership is adding three Central Florida counties under its umbrella, as part of a contract with the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Its expanded services will be seen in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, as the organization continues to help families like the Goodmans.

The family had been fostering a 4-year-old named Jo-Jo since he was just 6 weeks old, before trying to adopt as the case went on.

“I literally went into foster care saying that I would never adopt," Valeria Goodman said. "In my naïve mind, everyone would go home to their families, and someone would always come get them."

But as time passed, those feelings would change.

“We really weren’t sure, were we enough for him, were we too old for him," she said with a laugh. "And at the end of the day, it came down to how we would feel if he wasn’t here."

On May 10, 2023, it became official: Jo-Jo had a new last name and a new family.

But he also got a new nickname — "Lucky Charm" — because he was born on St Patrick’s Day.

Goodman said her family addition couldn’t have been possible with Brevard Family Partnership.

“They have become our biggest support," she said. "They actually have become family."

That’s what CEO Phil Scarpelli wants to hear, as for more than 20 years the organization has helped around 35,000 kids.

He said the planned expansion is going to be a heavy lift, but they will absorb many staff members working in the other counties.

“We will be the new leader and lead agency for child abuse prevention, working with kids for adoption, working with families of vulnerable children, in situations which really need hope,” Scarpelli said. “We are going to acquire existing workforce, and partners and contracts and leases.”

Goodman said the Brevard Family Partnership was the difference maker in adopting Jo-Jo, and was glad to know that even more will find loving homes too in three other counties.

“Tons of families, tons, so we are excited about it,” she said.