CHS Blog
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 […]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A new ‘Help Shelf’ is now open at Sabal Palm Elementary. It’s full of food and hygiene products that are free for anyone who needs them. The shelf was built by a local nonprofit called The Humanists of Tallahassee and made possible through $500 of grant money. It’s just one of […]
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was the leading diagnosis among children ages 3 to 17 from 2016 to 2019 at just under 10%. Anxiety was second at 9.4%, behavioral problems 8.9%, and depression at 4.4%. Among the organizations working with the Northwest Florida Mental Health Task Force […]
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Nonprofit Healthy Families Seminole at the Children’s Home Society (CHS) of Florida, which works to keep families together and children out of foster care, has seen a 100% success rate this year. Terry and Vedrana Conklin and their 15-month-old son, Lincoln, are living proof. Vedrana lost her job right after COVID […]
The CDC reports motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children in the U.S. Younger children are particularly vulnerable, but studies show many of these serious injuries could be prevented by reducing risk factors and using the proper child passenger restraints. Children are safest when riding in the correct type of restraint […]
FLEMING ISLAND – Keystone Heights Junior-Senior High is the latest school to join forces with a notable University of Central Florida program that will assist students with medical needs, counseling and academics. At a school board meeting last week, officials recognized Keystone Heights High as a UCF-certified Community Partnership School. The program provides tutoring, hygienic […]
When children go to school, their job is to learn, but it’s hard for students to focus in the classroom and reach their full potential when hunger strikes. Roughly 1 in 5 children statewide experience food insecurity and don’t know where their next meal is coming from, according to Feeding Florida. It’s a problem the […]
MIDDLEBURG – School Board Chairwoman Mary Bolla was lost for words as she stood inside one of the two examination rooms at the new Aza Health. “Incredible,” she muttered. As part of the school’s new UCF-Certified Community Partnership School designation, a health clinic that will serve Northwest Middleburg and Clay Hill is now operational on […]
MIDDLEBURG – There were times when it was difficult for Shawn C. Smith to keep her composure when describing Wilkinson Junior High’s two-year mission to become one of the few UCF-Certified Community Partnership Schools. Her voice cracked at times, but her smile was infectious. This was a big deal, and she knew it. “Previously, schools […]
The homeless youth in our community can be hard to spot. “You typically don’t see them on the side of the road holding a sign,” said Leah Harrison, Children’s Home Society of Florida senior director of development and advancement. Harrison said many young people without homes will perpetually couch surf, drifting between different residences. Harrison […]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – New lockers at Sabal Palm Elementary aren’t for holding books, but for distributing groceries. They were recently installed through a partnership with Second Harvest. They’re available for anyone in need, even those who aren’t part of the Sabal Palm community — and we can expect to soon see more lockers like […]
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 […]
PANAMA CITY — Parker Elementary School has adopted the Community Partnership Schools model to assist students with innovative learning and academic success. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house event took place Sept. 8 at Parker Elementary with community partners to celebrate the launch of the model. Parker Elementary is the first school in Bay County to adopt […]
As a result of its status as the district’s first Community Parnership School, Tallahassee’s Sabal Palm Elementary now has a sparkling new media center. During the official ribbon cutting on Thursday, Sept. 15, Sabal Palm student and reading club member Nha’Zjohn Barnes said a visit to his school’s library used to be a pretty uninspiring […]
In a matter of minutes, Maria and her 7 children were catapulted into crises. A devastating fire destroyed their home and nearly everything they owned. “We were left with nothing – we lost our home, we had nowhere to live.” The family of 8 was now facing homelessness and Maria – a single mom who […]
