CHS Blog
Once a focused and determined student, Jenny gradually began on a downward academic spiral when she reached junior high. She started skipping school several days every month, and her grades were steadily suffering. When she did make it to class, she simply couldn’t keep up because of all the instruction she missed. Noticing the change […]
Deion was struggling to adjust to a new environment as a 6th grade student at Howard W. Bishop Middle School. His mom has been unable to work due to COVID-19 restrictions and his family was facing financial crisis. Feeling worried and overwhelmed from the stress in his home, Deion began losing interest in learning and […]
Sienna’s outbursts began in first grade, as she struggled to cope with family turmoil. Her trauma manifested quickly into behavior issues: she refused to work in class, was defiant, and had bursts of crying, sometimes refusing to enter the classroom in the morning. Her education quickly took a backseat. But, fortunately, Sienna was at a […]
Gabriel’s challenges began in middle school and by the time he entered high school, he was struggling emotionally and academically. Gabriel, primarily raised by his grandfather, moved across the country to live with his parents where he faced unfamiliar surroundings, unknown people and a brand new school. The stressful transition was weighing on Gabriel emotionally, […]
Shining a Light: A series of stories for Black History Month highlighting people making a difference today in Central Florida’s Black community. As a teenager, Jarvis Wheeler worked 30 hours a week at a restaurant while balancing schoolwork and sports at Dr. Phillips High School. “It was empowering for me to stand on my own,” […]
Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS), the state’s largest provider of services to children and families, has named Barbara McDonald Chief Financial Officer. As Chief Financial Officer for CHS, McDonald leads the statewide business and financial management of the organization, as well as the financial management of the Children’s Home Society of Florida Foundation. McDonald […]
When COVID-19 catapulted students into remote learning overnight, our kids lost more than an in-person learning experience. Children in frightening, unstable home environments lost precious hours of safety and certainty, and positive relationships with peers, teachers, principals and bus drivers. Students struggling with anxiety, depression or a host of other mental health issues lost comfort, […]
Mia’s struggles with behavior and mental health began when she was only in Pre-K. Her immense anger outbursts involved screaming, crying, throwing and breaking items These behaviors persisted for years, reaching an all-time intensity throughout 3rd grade, when she received 4 out of school suspensions for threatening the safety of others. Mia lives with a […]
Dr. Phillips Charities provides $75k for Orange County students’ mental health care Orlando, FL (January 22, 2020) — Children’s Home Society of Florida was awarded a $75,000 grant on behalf of Dr. Phillips Charities to support the surge of mental health needs of underinsured and uninsured Orange County students due to the effects caused by […]
In March of 2019, a friend of mine posted on Facebook about being a mentor and how the program could use some more people willing to become mentors. At that time, I was basically an empty nester. My daughter was grown and had moved out a few years prior and was living her own life. […]
Like most parents in 2020, Belkis Moya suddenly became the “principal” of her home when her children started virtual schooling in response to the coronavirus pandemic. She worried how the challenges of the pandemic would impact her children’s ability to learn and achieve … and how she would be able to support them along the […]
Cheryl Miller makes a Positively Jax Difference by opening her heart and her home to children who have experienced trauma and may have severe emotional and behavioral needs. She is a “specialized therapeutic foster parent in Northeast Florida. Miller works with the Children’s Home Society to find kids with special needs who need special love […]
I’ll start by saying thank you to those of you who have helped me along the way. I’ve been helped by many people in many ways. I tell myself a lot it’s the little things that count and it’s true. When in the moment it’s often hard to see the big picture or the main […]
Amanda and Christopher enrolled in Children’s Home Society of Florida’s (CHS) Early Head Start program (EHS) when their first child was just three months old. As a first-time mom, Amanda didn’t know a lot about child development and early school readiness. She leaned on her EHS home visitor, Sandra, for education and encouragement to track baby’s […]
After nearly one year apart, Reba’s family will celebrate the holidays together at home. Reba — a Lakeland mother of two — welcomed her children home from foster care just in time for the magic of the holiday season. After surviving a toxic domestic relationship and battling substance abuse, Reba found the strength to overcome […]
