CHS Blog
A seemingly small obstacle can have a big effect on a student’s education. “If you come to school hungry, you can’t focus if your stomach is churning,” said Lauren Fuentes, the regional executive director for Children’s Home Society of Florida. “You can’t focus if you’ve got a toothache, if you’ve got a headache,” she continued. […]
Longtime teachers often say there’s only so much they can do to help kids inside the classroom when there are struggles at home, but a growing program in Manatee County is making a difference in both. Manatee Elementary in Bradenton has been transformed by a new Community Partnership School model that brings together nonprofits to […]
Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS) is celebrating 120 years of devoted service to children and families. Founded on November 17, 1902, CHS was established as a child welfare society focused on placing children in safe, loving healthy homes. Before the invention of bubble gum or the Model T. Ford, CHS was uniting Florida residents […]
MIAMI — Adopted at birth, Miami Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold believes he would have dedicated his time toward helping children and youth in foster care, no matter where his career took him. He had a plan if football didn’t work out; in fact, you could argue that football was Plan B. Around his junior year at Wisconsin, Ingold was […]
November is National Adoption Month – the perfect time to shine a light on adoptive families and their journey. Anna was adopted through CHS in 1962. Today she is a mother of four, piano teacher and performer. She says she owes this all to her adoptive parents who raised her and her biological mother who […]
We need to talk about the relationship between domestic violence and Florida’s foster care system. It may not shock you to learn that reports of child abuse and neglect often go hand-in-hand with findings of domestic violence. But when a family is in crisis and a child’s safety is at risk, the chaos and trauma […]
Is Your Estate Plan ready for the next Hurricane or Emergency? It’s Never too Early! Make important plans for those you care about during National Estate Planning Awareness Week, October 17-23. Who: Everyone 18 years or older needs a plan, not just the elderly or wealthy. What: Important documents include a Will, Power of Attorney […]
Although the holiday season brings tremendous joy and togetherness, it can also bring stress and enormous pressure triggering significant mental health challenges. Prioritizing self-care is an effective way to reduce stress, improve well-being and help find peace in challenging situations. Putting mental wellness on the backburner may cause irritability, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, extreme […]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Six of the nine deadliest U.S. mass shootings since 2018 were committed by people 21 or younger, which according to researchers is a shift from trends in the earlier decades. The shooting in North Carolina Thursday night resulted in the deaths of five people including an off-duty police officer is just the latest in a […]
In the weeks since Hurricane Ian made landfall, our communities in Southwest Florida are still reeling from the impact. The devastation in Fort Myers was at a level that no one anticipated or expected. Parts of the city still don’t have power and essential resources like water and diapers are still hard to find. Many […]
It is officially hurricane season! It is extremely important to stay prepared and informed during this time of year. Our Children’s Home Society of Florida Hurricane Preparedness webpage has key information available to you at all times. Below you will find some key reminders for you and your family. Identify important contacts and keep them […]
Now Streaming from the Florida Institute of Child Welfare Children’s Home Society of Florida’s (CHS) Morgan Ryan and Brianna Kobayashi talk with Dr. Jessica Pryce about CaseAIM, CHS’ revolutionary technology changing the way child welfare works. Together, with our technology partner Stabilify, we are leading the way in case management innovation. https://soundcloud.com/user-667304189/s5-e1-theres-an-app-for-that-caseaim-technology
Joyce and Kaitlyn became mentor and mentee about a year ago when they joined the MODEL mentoring program. Now, they consider each other family. The mentoring program connects kids with mentors. During their mentoring relationship, positive adult role models help youth build self-esteem, teach the importance of respecting authority and empower them to achieve educational […]
When you’re a new parent, it can be overwhelming, confusing and, sometimes a bit scary. Catherine related to these feelings because she was an expecting mother dealing with a lot of life changes all at once. “My husband and I found out we were pregnant weeks after leaving the military. We came to a quick […]
Are you a high school student looking to volunteer? Do you need community service hours? Children’s Home Society of Florida has opportunities for you! Whether you have an hour a week or a few hours each month, here are five volunteer opportunities for you. Create Positive Affirmation Jars for Kids 💌 Negative thinking patterns can […]
