Kimberly's Center for Child Protection

Our Prevention Team continues to work hard to share with young people in our community how they can stay safe through the Child Safety Matters curriculum.

We are grateful for the opportunity to present to the Boys & Girls Clubs throughout our county this summer. These partnerships enable us to empower our young people.

Thank you Interfaith Emergency Services and Interfaith Thrift Store for this large donation of children’s clothing and always thinking of the kids we serve! We love to partner with other local organizations to provide support to our families!

In recognition of our Child Protection Team this week, we asked our team to share a safety tip to parents and about what they enjoy most about their work at Kimberly's Center.

"Favorite part of the job is seeing a reluctant child prior to the interview open up talk. It is very rewarding!"

In recognition of our Child Protection Team this week, we asked our team to share a safety tip to parents and about what they enjoy most about their work at Kimberly's Center.

"Favorite part of the job is being able to make connections with our families and provide the aid to strengthen their kids."

In recognition of our Child Protection Team this week, we asked our team to share a safety tip to parents and about what they enjoy most about their work at Kimberly's Center.

"Favorite part of the job is working with the brave and strong kids on a daily basis. These victims come to talk with someone they barely know about things that are very personal and very difficult, yet they choose to trust us and open up to us."

In recognition of our Child Protection Team this week, we asked our team to share a safety tip to parents and about what they enjoy most about their work at Kimberly's Center.

"Favorite part of the job is being a trusted adult for the victims and being able to support/contribute to the investigation to help seek justice and safety for the victims."

With this week being National Forensic Interviewer Week, we wanted to share this quick read about what it is like to be a Forensic Interviewer. Check it out!

https://blountkids.org/forensic-interviewing-so-uh-what-exactly-do-you-do/

Forensic Interviewing: So, uh, what exactly do you do? Ever wondered what a Forensic Interviews does? This wonderful article written by Eliazbeth King from the Randolph-Tucker Children’s Advocacy Center does a great job of sharing what it is like to work in this role.  Our many thanks to Elizabeth for sharing her story and to all the Forensic Intervi...

In recognition of our Child Protection Team this week, we asked our team to share a safety tip to parents and about what they enjoy most about their work at Kimberly's Center.

"Favorite part of the job is giving victims/survivors a safe and nurturing environment to talk about abuse and letting them know we believe them and support them."

This week is National Forensic Interviewer Week! We want to take a moment to acknowledge this hard working team at Kimberly’s Center who work tirelessly each day to interview the children we serve so that their stories are heard to provide help, hope and healing they need.

We are so grateful for their commitment to serve!

Thank you to our recent donors Feasterco Construction, Christ the King Anglican Church and Tallen Builders for their recent donations for the children we serve! We could not do what we do without the support of this community!

Once something is posted on the Internet, there is no true "delete" key. With screenshots and screen recordings, this information can be out there forever. This also demonstrates how something can become public.

We commemorate Juneteenth today. June 19 marks the third consecutive year of as a federally recognized United States holiday. Also known as Freedom Day, Emancipation Day or America's second Independence Day, Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. after the Civil War.

Our specialized therapists at Kimberly's Center provide creative, evidenced based approaches to helping the children we serve heal from the trauma of abuse.

During today's all staff meeting, our Therapy Team shared the benefits of Sandplay Therapy.

This type of play therapy is a nonverbal, therapeutic intervention that makes use of a sandbox and toy figures to create miniature worlds that reflect a person's inner thoughts, struggles and concerns. - Psychology Today.

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this summer without breaking the bank.

Check this out!

Kick off summer vacation with the Marion Theatre's Summer Kids Film Series! We've also got a whole new month of feel-good classics the entire family can enjoy. Be sure to catch our Sensory-Friendly Saturday: Lilo and Stitch event sponsored by SOL Therapies!
See you at the movies!🎬🍿

June Sponsored by Marion Cultural Alliance and Marion County Children's Alliance

Summer Kids Film Series sponsored by Ocala Electric Utility, Pediatric Associates of Ocala, The Truluck Team at Sellstate Next Generation Realty!

Here's an important story about the story of how one family inspired a community to embrace children in the foster care system.

Sound Of Hope: The Story Of Possum Trot | Official Trailer | Angel Studios In Theaters July 4, 2024Get Showtimes: https://www.angel.com/hopeThe fight for kids begins now. Inspired by the powerful true story, Sound of Hope: The Story...

Children and teens have a natural tendency to be curious. This curiosity often can lead to dangerous situations. Nowadays, there is the in-person danger and the virtual danger to be aware of. This can be daunting to manage, but apps like Bark and Canopy enable parents to manage that. These apps allow teens to have their freedom online to engage with others while letting parents have the power to keep them safe and out of danger.

Members of our staff joined a specialized team from Ocala Police Department, Marion County Sheriff's Office and Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office in Atlanta this week for a conference presented by the National Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

The National Law Enforcement Training on Child Exploitation is a national training event designed to expand the efforts and knowledge base of law enforcement investigators and prosecutors by providing specialized training focused on investigating and prosecuting technology-facilitated crimes against children.

Through the support of donors during the , Kimberly's Center was able to provide scholarships to help offset some of the expense of this important aspect of many of our cases.

We are so grateful to have our community support this important collaboration!

Our prevention team taught important digital safety tips today to an enthusiastic group, Youth Police Academy, organized through .

They also received a visit from to help teach these kiddos about his role as Mayor👮🏻👮🏽‍♂️

We are grateful for the ongoing support of and appreciate our time to connect with Father Don, Fr. Matthew and Steve Munroe today to continue the important conversation of how best to protect our kids in Marion County.

Third party events such as this inspire us at Kimberly's Center because it demonstrates what individuals can accomplish as a collective when we think out-of-the box to help fund our mission.

To EVERYONE involved over the years committed to making this event a success...THANK YOU!

We were thrilled to attend the Marion County Children's Alliance's annual event celebrating their important contribution to children in our community! Kudos to Beth Wasson McCall, Monica Bryant and all involved who made this event so successful. 🫶🏻

Happy
Mother's Day!

Help those in need in Marion County by participating in the annual Letter Carrier’s Food drive on May 11, 2024.

1st - don’t forget to place your non-perishable food at your mailbox on Saturday May 11th. All donations stay right here in Marion County.

2nd - WE NEED VOLUNTEERS at 2 locations to help unload postal trucks as they drop off food. Lunch will be provided.
• Volunteer shifts at Interfaith’s Warehouse:
12pm – 3pm (need 5 volunteers)
3pm – 7pm (need 10 volunteers) PEAK HOURS

• Volunteer shifts at the Paddock Branch Post Office:
4545 SW 60th Ave, Ocala, FL 34474
12pm - 3pm (need 10 volunteers)
3pm – 6pm (need 10 volunteers) PEAK HOURS

This is a great opportunity to get involved with a short volunteer project for those that dont have a lot of free time.

To sign up and for more info about this awesome opportunity – please contact Sonya at 352-644-9202 or Maxi at 352-622-4204.