Victor Sims

Highlights

• Child Welfare Leader
• Former National Foster Care Policy Council Member
• Helping transform communities and provide support in Workforce Development.

Experience

Victor Sims grew up in Florida’s foster care system without the stability of a permanent home and supportive family for 11 years prior to being adopted. From his work helping to improve children’s experiences when they are removed from their parents to his TEDx Talk on the importance of social capital for youth in care, Mr. Sims is focused on bringing about positive changes to the foster care system. Victor helped SailFuture to pilot an innovative case management program for teenagers who were sleeping in offices. Victor reduced the number of children sleeping in offices by 100% within 4 months by creating partnerships and building capacity for those caring for children in foster care through the recruitment of kinship families.

Mr. Sims travels throughout Florida and the country speaking to legislators about creating reform for youth in care. He has advocated for a bill of rights for children in foster care as well as efforts to ensure that every child has a plan for permanency. In addition to serving on the National Foster Youth and Alumni Policy Council, he has met with legislators in support of the Family First Prevention Services Act. In June 2019, he was recognized by the American Bar Association as a Reunification Hero. Victor shares his experiences to ensure that children have a chance for reunification and beyond. He was recognized as a 2020 Casey Excellence for Children Award as an Alumni in care. This year Victor was recognized by the Treehouse Foundation as part of their Re-Envisioning Foster Care in America Champion.

In 2020, Mr. Sims founded a non-profit organization called Guiding Hope. The non-profit focuses on mentorship and building relationships with children in foster care who identify as LGBTQ by creating safe havens within the system of care where they are recognized for who they are, reducing high-risk behaviors by 82% such as self-harm, sexual activity, substance misuse, and truancy.

Education

Victor holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of South Florida in St.Petersburg, he also received a master's in Business Administration from Florida International University. Victor will begin pursuing his Juris Masters at Florida State University.

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