Jennifer Behnam is President of Bridging Resources and Individuals Together for Excellence (BRITE) Consulting Services, LLC, a management consulting firm specializing in strategic consulting, grant writing, and program development in the social services sector.

BRITE Consulting Services partners with non-profits and government entities to secure funding for new and existing programs and offers
training and consultation in improving state child welfare systems.

Ms. Behnam began her career as a case manager for dual-diagnosis females at a homeless shelter in Jacksonville, Florida. Although Ms. Behnam’s career encompasses a wide range of direct service, management, and leadership responsibilities at nonprofits, the majority of her experience is in public child welfare, with children and families involved in the foster care system.

 During her 9 years at Family Support Services of North Florida, the lead agency for child welfare in Jacksonville Florida, Ms. Behnam held numerous positions including Compliance Reviewer; Trainer; Quality Assurance Director; Program Services Director; and
Chief Program Officer.

In 2006, Ms. Behnam created and implemented Duval County’s Family Preservation Program entitled, “Strengthening Ties and Empowering Parents” (STEPS). The STEPS program served over 4,500 children per year and continues as a vital program in the community. As Chief Program Officer, Ms. Behnam was also an instrumental member of the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) Redesign Team which achieved the safe reduction of children in foster care by 62% in under 18-months.

As a true advocate for families, she led the FSS Family Preservation Team by using a strength based-family centered approach focused on keeping families together.

Since 2010, Ms. Behnam’s consulting practice has focused on providing strategic consulting that involves assessing, coordinating, and leading change in policy, practice, and programs in state child welfare systems. As a consultant for Casey Family Programs, the nation’s largest operating foundation focused solely on
reforming foster care, Ms. Behnam has consulted in over a dozen states including:
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, Kansas, California, and Maryland. Ms. Behnam, recognized for her passion for permanency for older children in care, has trained and presented nationally on the importance of relentlessly pursuing permanency for all children.

Ms. Behnam is the 2007 recipient of the Child Abuse Prevention Award by the Florida Times-Union and was named one of Jacksonville Business Journals Up & Comers (40 Future Leaders Under 40) in 2009. Ms. Behnam earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology (BA) from the University of North Florida and a Masters in
Social Work (MSW), with a concentration in Social Policy and Administration, from Florida State University.