Stoops CFC Center’s Rebound & Recovery Blooms at 2025 Children’s Week Florida
Rebound & Recovery, an initiative of the Stoops Center for Communities, Families, and Children (Stoops CFC Center) at FSU College of Social Work, proudly participated in Children’s Week Florida™ 2025 to promote early childhood mental health and well-being.
Held at the Florida Capitol the week of April 13–18 in Tallahassee, Florida, the annual Children’s Week Florida celebrated its 30th year of bringing together thousands of educators, legislators, supporters and families to promote the health, safety and development of Florida’s children.
From lobbying to interactive activities, the Rebound & Recovery team showed up in full force to amplify the message that every child deserves mental health tools as early as possible.
“Children’s Week is a powerful reminder that advocacy is not just about policy — it’s about presence,” said Ellen Piekalkiewicz, director of the Stoops CFC Center. “Being at the Capitol and the Storybook Village allows our team to connect with families, educators, and lawmakers in meaningful ways.”
On the evening of April 14, the Stoops CFC Center Director Ellen Piekalkiewicz, Associate Director Tai Cole, and Project Coordinator Keshia Jenkins attended the Advocacy Dinner at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. The evening brought together organizations across the state, applauding the individuals and programs driving real change for Florida’s children.
The next day, April 15, the full Rebound & Recovery team took part in Storybook Village, providing two interactive booths for visiting children and their families. The theme for this year’s event, “Keep Blooming Florida,” emphasized the participation and support for neurodivergent children — a mission that aligns seamlessly with Rebound & Recovery’s cognitive behavioral approach to emotional regulation in young learners.
The center’s booths in the Storybook Village offered calming tools and strategies for children and families. The tools included debuting a new cognitive behavioral technique called Petal Power, inspired by the event’s floral theme. The team also introduced a playful body awareness activity called the Superhero Butterfly, which uses progressive muscle relaxation to help children manage stress.
Children from several preschool classrooms where Rebound & Recovery is implemented visited the booth with their teachers, eager to see familiar faces. They gathered around as their program associate read The Little Butterfly That Could by Ross Burach, a story celebrating resilience and self-belief. Afterward, the children practiced Petal Power breathing and fluttered their arms like wings as they tried the Superhero Butterfly relaxation technique.
“It was a full-circle moment for so many of our students,” shared Tai Cole, associate director of the center. “To see their program associate outside of the classroom and standing at the Capitol, reading such an empowering story and helping them practice calming skills — it reinforces that emotional wellness belongs everywhere, from the classroom to the Capitol steps.”
Dean David Springer of the FSU College of Social Work visited the Rebound & Recovery booths during the Capitol event, showing his support for the team’s hands-on advocacy and community-based impact. His presence underscored the College’s commitment to equipping the next generation of social workers with practical tools to support emotional development in early childhood.
Children’s Week 2025 was also a celebration of growth within the team. On Wednesday, April 16, Keshia Jenkins graduated from the Early Learning Fellowship, a statewide leadership program focused on improving early childhood systems. Rebound & Recovery’s presence at Children’s Week Florida 2025 was not just a celebration but a demonstration of the power of resilience, presence, and policy to support children’s mental well-being.
