CHS Blog
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 […]
June is Home Safety Month and at Children’s Home Society of Florida we work to keep children and families safe both in and out of the home. You may never know what could be a risk, so it’s important that parents work to keep their children safe at home from a variety of items such […]
For National Reunification Month, we want to shed light on the work and commitment parents put into getting their children back home. When children enter the child welfare system, the goal for CHS is to help families overcome challenges so they may bring their children home safely. Reunification is possible once a home is deemed […]
For National Reunification Month, we want to recognize the people and efforts that help families stay together. It’s a celebration of the year-round work by parents, family members, social workers, and the community to reunify children with their families. At CHS, employees work closely with families to achieve the goal of reunification. Employees like Sandi […]
“Silence is definitely different inside your home when your children are not there,” said Misty. With June being National Reunification Month, we want to highlight all of the families who have overcome challenges to successfully bring their children back home safely. Misty is one of those success stories. She had her 5 children removed from […]
Living in the sunshine state means spending the summer months with loved ones by the pool or at the beach. Water can provide fun activities everyone, but it can also pose dangers for children. To keep water activities fun and safe for all, it’s important to establish safety practices to prevent drowning. Here are some […]
Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS) has appointed Alex Ralicki to its statewide Board of Directors empowering children and their families to find – and pursue – opportunities for success and happiness throughout Florida. Ralicki is a Wealth Manager and Accountant for Ralicki Wealth Management & Trust. After 7 years serving on CHS’ local advisory […]
I didn’t know what an engineer was until I was in college. I knew what a nurse did, because my mom was a nurse. It wasn’t until college that I had access to the worlds beyond that of my home or the small town I grew up in. I’m not alone. Throughout Florida, thousands of […]
Martine Michel may not have taken the route she intended, but she ended up exactly where she needed to be; a foster parent that has provided a loving and supportive home for 16 kids in the past two years. Martine initially wanted to start a group home. She said it has always been a passion […]
Growing up in the foster care system, Rose Williams knew she wanted to give back to children in need. Her and her wife, Melanie, decided that the best way to do that was to become foster parents. “I always chose that I would always do better than the way that my parents were,” said Rose. […]
Berlyn and Elias Reese have been providing a loving home for children in need since 1989. Their love for children is what inspired them to begin their fostering journey. After 60 kids, Berlyn lost count of how many they’ve had in their home and believes they’ve taken care of well over 100 children by now. […]
Last year, 1,578 children who were impacted by allegations of sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect in the Greater Lakeland area received care from our local Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC). With April being National Child Abuse Prevention Month, it’s important to highlight the resources in our community that are helping prevent child abuse and neglect. […]
Each March – and all year long – we celebrate the impact of women around us. It is a time of celebration to recognize the contributions of women to history, culture, and society. Recently, we were honored to come together to learn more about the historic contributions women have bestowed to our nation, as well […]
When Tanya became pregnant with her first child she joined Children’s Home Society of Florida’s Healthy Families – a program that provides encouragement, practical guidance and resources to parents throughout Florida. During weekly sessions, and in the comfort of their own homes, parents – like Tanya — learn how to help their children reach key […]
Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent diseases and keep your family safe. But in recent years, myths and misinformation have created vaccine hesitancy – both delaying vaccinations and leading families to skip them all together. In fact, about 1 in 5 parents is considered “vaccine hesitant.” Vaccine hesitancy and misinformation can […]
