Photo Caption: Faith’s Garden was named after a 3-year-old girl who died from child abuse. The garden is a place for reflection to honor all the lives of children who died from abuse and neglect.
The main mission of the Kids House is to stop the abuse of children and aid the victims by providing coordinated services. The coordinated services take place in a safe child-friendly environment that makes all child abuse victims feel inclusive. Since 1999, the Kids House has been the only accredited Children’s Advocacy Center in Seminole County serving neglected and abused children. The Kids House Child Protection Team, Child Advocate Program, Medical Trauma Program, Mental Health Program, and the Facility Dog Jordon are all critical services provided.
The Child Protection Team conducts forensic interview, provides knowledge in investigation, and if needed, appears in court. For parents or caregivers who are not offenders, the Child Advocates provide assistance to make sure basic needs are met. For children who need medical attention, the Medical Team provides exams documenting injuries. If need be, the Mental Health Therapists provide trauma therapy. The Facility Dog Jordon provides comfort and unconditional love to alleviate anxiety for the children who have trauma. With all of this knowledge, the Kids House Team works with other agencies in the Seminole County area to provide training.
All the services provided by the Kids House are essential to its community. Through research, if a child has the adverse effects from child abuse, it will affect their development and even life span. Along with noticing the abuse a child receives, providing special services can support the development of that child. Some of the services include specialized trauma-focused services, and evidence-based therapy.
COVID-19 has had a significant impact on their clients and staff. It has added another level of stress of families worrying about their jobs, housing, and finances. This added stress has made it more difficult for working parents to keep their kids safe. The added stress makes it more likely for abuse, neglect and domestic violence to increase. The Kids House is in need for additional support and assistance to combat this. With the help from The Father’s Table Foundation, the Kids House has been able to keep up with its essential services.