The History of Brookwood Florida

1927Brookwood opens it doors. Brookwood initially started as a safe place for unwed mothers. It was chartered as a Florence Crittenton Home and young women from all over the U.S. east coast were told to board a train and remain boarded until the tracks ended in Florida. At the end of the tracks, the young women were told to get off and cross the road. On the other side, the girls would walk into a large home that would be a safe harbor until they gave birth.

1976The name changes to A Young Women’s Residents, Inc. and the goals were shifted. The emotional needs of adolescent girls surfaced as an unmet community need. Girls between the ages of 13 – 18 who had been abused, abandoned, neglected, impregnated, or involved in family crisis were referred for placement.

“I always attributed [Brookwood] with changing my life. If it weren’t for this place, I would be another statistic”

D., former Brookwood resident

1992The name changed to Brookwood, Inc. and maternity care was removed from the service array.

1994The agency opened Brookwood East, a 14-bed facility in Broward County for girls between the ages of 11-18. This satellite campus allowed Brookwood to better serve South Florida residents.

1997Brookwood was awarded funding for the HUD-Funded Transitional Housing Project, which opened Brookwood’s doors to young women aged 18-21 who were displaced, homeless, and void of independent living skills.

2001The name changed to Brookwood Florida, Inc.

2008A six bed south Brookwood residence opened in North Fort Myers to provide therapeutic residential services for girls from southwestern Florida. It continued until 2011 when Brookwood Florida, Inc., recentralized its services to the main St. Petersburg campus.

2012-13Brookwood Florida, Inc.: Brookwood East and South were formally merged into Brookwood Central, South and East dissolved, and Central acquired the name Brookwood Florida, Inc.

2014Enhanced Adult Program: Brookwood embraced the State’s “Extended Foster Care” programming option by designating 14 beds (in the cottage and the apartment) for clients electing to remain in group care beyond their 18th birthday. Program design and operation are consistent with the residents’ need for self-sufficiency preparation.