Safe Havens for Children
"I used to always run away from situations. This is the first place I've never tried to run away from." -Stephanie, a 17-year-old living in our Nelle Smith Residence for teen girls
Thousands of Florida children are unable to safely and securely live with their own families, sometimes temporarily and sometimes forever. Many of these children are abused or neglected. Many are abandoned and ignored. Some runaway or drastically disrupt the home, usually in response to family crises.
All deserve better. All need a safe haven from life's storms. Last year, CHS provided nearly 2,000 children with secure, loving group home care or emergency shelter.
CHS provides temporary emergency shelter and long-term residential care to children throughout the state. Ranging in age from infants to teens, these children have borne a great deal of hurt and face many challenges in their recovery. Though the victims in their situations, they are the ones who must leave familiar surroundings and make a life among strangers.
Caring CHS staff and volunteers offer new homes to these children. Some will be fortunate enough to return to their own homes when family issues are resolved. Some will be placed in foster care. Some will be released for adoption. Others will live with their CHS families until they become young adults.
Emergency Shelter Care
A child once described one of our emergency shelters as "a safe place where I won't get hurt any more."
Loving care in one of CHS' safe havens helps the healing begin for children who have known little peace in their young lives. Some have been physically or sexually abused. Others have been abandoned or mistreated, often by parents with histories of drug and alcohol abuse. Still others come from families unable to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads with running water and electricity.
In all cases, officials removed the children from their homes for their own safety and well-being. Their futures vary. Some will be placed in foster homes and some in adoptive homes. Some may return to their own families if their parents work to resolve issues and situations that endangered the children. Until then, these fragile youth receive the nurturing, safety and guidance they've long deserved.
Residential Group Care
"One thing I do value is people that care about me, because I never had people who loved me or cared about me, or even paid me a lot of attention." -Ashleigh, when in residence at CHS' Hacienda Girl's Ranch
CHS is home to hundreds of children like Ashleigh who come to live, sometimes permanently, in one of our group homes throughout Florida. Some have lost their parents. Some have been abandoned. Some are homeless due to abuse or neglect, and many struggle with emotional or behavioral problems.
Most youth in our residential homes have tried unsuccessfully to flourish with traditional foster families, often requiring more in-depth care, attention and counseling than many foster homes can provide. Others, still tortured by the haunting memories of their own homes, are afraid to trust another family and prefer the larger, lively group "family" at CHS.
"This is the only place I've ever felt safe. I hope I can stay here until I'm 18." -Jessica, a 14-year-old in one of our group homes
Providing much more than shelter and food, CHS staff nurture and counsel children in our care. CHS homes are usually filled with laughter, music and play, but sometimes give way to tears and anger as the children learn to cope with their situations and begin to heal.
In some ways, CHS group homes are no different than that of any family. They are energetic households with CHS house parents and staff who make the children feel safe and at home, perhaps for the first time in their lives. CHS team members weave the details of home life -- school drop-offs, movie outings, sports, after-school activities -- into a busy daily schedule. But they never lose sight of their bigger, tougher job: helping the children in the care find the best within themselves. They listen to their hopes, encourage their dreams and work with them to reach their goals. For the children who need it, we also provide intensive therapy and counseling.
For those who "grow up" with CHS, we provide support, training and love as they prepare to transition into adulthood through independent living and self-sufficiency programs.