Kids House

Congratulations to Jordon, our Kids House Facility Dog, for 8 years at Kids House! Jordon makes such an impact at Kids House by helping children find their voice and feel safe. Check out her page at Jordon's Journal for a look into the fantastic work Jordon does with the children at Kids House.🐾💙

Child abuse takes on many different forms, and not all signs of child abuse look the same. But the first step in helping a child in need is recognizing the signs of child abuse. Recognizing these signs is crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of the children around you. Take a look at some of the indicators of child abuse. Remember, .

If you suspect child abuse or neglect, call the Florida Abuse Hotline to make a report at 1-800-96-ABUSE or 1-800-962-2873.

Now that school is back in session, there will be an increase in reports made to the Florida Abuse Hotline. Teachers, daycare/aftercare workers, and other school employees are among some of our most common mandated reporters. However, you don't have to be a professional that works with children to report child abuse or neglect. Remember, it's everyone's job to protect children. !

Mandated reporters are part of the safety net that protects children, and provides lifesaving help to child victims in our community. If you suspect child abuse or neglect, call the Florida Abuse Hotline to make a report at 1-800-96-ABUSE or 1-800-962-2873.

Kids House wishes all the kids, educators, and parents/caregivers of Seminole County a wonderful first day back to school! Here’s to a great school year!!

We are excited to invite you to our Kids House 25th Anniversary Open House on September 27th, from 4-6pm! Join us as we celebrate 25 years of hope and healing. This milestone is a testament to the dedication we have to prevent child abuse and help child abuse victims and families. Come and visit our Children’s Advocacy Center and learn about the impact of our work, meet our team, and learn more about how we can continue to make a difference together and create positive change in the lives of those who need it most. RSVP at www.kidshouse.org/open-house or contact Melissa at 407-324-3036 ext. 241 or [email protected] by September 20th.

Class is almost in session! This means there will be an influx of first-day pictures flooding your timelines and feeds. First day of school photos are a great way to commemorate the start of a new year. However, it's important to be mindful of what you share and ensure you're not oversharing. Providing potentially identifying details online, such as your child's school name, teacher's name, school uniforms/logos, or your child's hobbies, can inadvertently be used by predators to groom children on social media or gaming apps. Before you share, remember to keep privacy and safety in mind. Here are some tips to consider as you get ready to share your kids' first-day photos or any of their photos online.

School is almost back in session! The end of summer break and the beginning of a new school year equals change. It's important to help your child transition back to school mode. And with school starting next week, now is the perfect time to start. This time of year can be both exciting and stressful, but there are ways to make the process smoother. Here are some tips to prepare to help your child for the start of a new school year.

Did you know Kids House collaborates with 12 partnering agencies? Working alongside our Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) partners is essential to achieving our mission and allows us to take on a team approach in dealing with child abuse. This approach allows Kids House to streamline services and come together at a single facility where the needs of children come first.

The countdown to Kids House’s 25th Anniversary! To make this a momentous anniversary month, we invite you to celebrate with us. But how? Kids House will host an Open House event on September 27th, 2024, from 4-6pm, to celebrate 25 years of hope and healing. Help us continue our legacy and donate at least $25 for our 25th Anniversary. By donating, you ensure that we can continue to play a critical role in meeting the needs of our abused and neglected children and providing them with essential services. Your generosity and kindness go a long way to preventing child abuse and helping child abuse victims and families. Donate here: https://bit.ly/3tEBjuZ

Did you know that Kids House’s own Faith's Garden was established with special thanks to the Altamonte Springs Rotary Club and Oviedo Police Department? Located by Kids House's front door, Faith's Garden is a tranquil, peaceful place of reflection and contemplation meant to honor Seminole County children who have lost their lives to abuse and neglect. To learn more about Faith's Garden, visit www.kidshouse.org/faiths-garden.

The countdown to Kids House’s 25th Anniversary! To make this a momentous anniversary month, we invite you to celebrate with us. But how? Kids House will be hosting an Open House event on September 27th, 2024, from 4-6pm, to celebrate 25 years of hope and healing. Help us continue our legacy and donate at least $25 for our 25th anniversary. By donating, you ensure that we can continue to play a critical role in meeting the needs of our abused and neglected children and providing them with essential services. Your generosity and kindness go a long way to preventing child abuse and helping child abuse victims and families. Donate here: https://bit.ly/3tEBjuZ

You still have time to shop for ! While shopping on , consider supporting a good cause and shop our wishlist and helping Kids House aid child abuse victims and their families. Your purchases can make a difference in the lives of children in need.

Clubhouse Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/3D4RHWX75ZHR1

General Wishlist: https://tinyurl.com/kidshousewishlist

Prime Day starts tomorrow! Support a good cause by shopping our wishlist and helping Kids House aid child abuse victims and their families. Your purchases can make a difference in the lives of children in need.

Clubhouse Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/3D4RHWX75ZHR1

General Wishlist: https://tinyurl.com/kidshousewishlist

Today is ! As summer break begins to wind down, we hope you and your family get a chance to enjoy some poolside fun, creating wonderful memories while prioritizing safety. It's crucial to prioritize water safety, especially for children. Drowning is a leading cause of death for kids under five, making vigilance and proper safety measures essential. We can significantly reduce risks and prevent tragic accidents by staying alert and practicing water safety. Let's make this summer safe and enjoyable by refreshing our knowledge of Water Safety Tips. Here's to a fun, safe, and refreshing summer!

For more information and tips, visit www.poolsafely.gov.

Did you know the original Kids House building was once used for undercover operations by the Seminole County Sheriff's Office? In February 1999, Sheriff Don Eslinger proposed to the Seminole County Commission that a house the Sheriff's Office used as an undercover operation to house the Children's Advocacy Center, known as Kids House of Seminole, Inc. Before expanding, all of Kids House’s services were conducted under one roof. Today, this building is where our Mental Health team conducts therapy with our clients.

The countdown to Kids House’s 25th Anniversary! To make this a momentous anniversary month, we invite you to celebrate with us. But how? Kids House will be hosting an Open House event on September 27th, 2024, from 4-6pm, to celebrate 25 years of hope and healing. Help us continue our legacy and donate at least $25 for our 25th anniversary. By donating, you ensure that we can continue to play a critical role in meeting the needs of our abused and neglected children and providing them with essential services. Your generosity and kindness go a long way to preventing child abuse and helping child abuse victims and families. Donate here: https://bit.ly/3tEBjuZ

On July 31st, Kids House celebrates our 25th Anniversary! To make this a momentous anniversary month, we invite you to celebrate with us. But how? Kids House will be hosting an Open House event on September 27th, 2024, from 4-6pm, to celebrate 25 years of hope and healing. Help us continue our legacy and donate at least $25 for our 25th anniversary. By donating, you ensure that we can continue to play a critical role meeting the needs of our abused and neglected children and providing them with essential services. Your generosity and kindness go a long way to preventing child abuse and helping child abuse victims and families. Donate here: https://bit.ly/3tEBjuZ

Congratulations to our Mental Health Program Director, Denise, on celebrating 13 stellar years with Kids House! Thank you for your commitment to Kids House and to the protection of the children and families we serve.

Happy ! We celebrate and honor the sacrifices for liberty, unity, and freedom that have shaped our nation.

Kids House is closed today to observe Independence Day! We will reopen tomorrow, July 5th, during normal business hours. If you suspect child abuse or neglect, please call the Florida Abuse Hotline to make a report at 1-800-96-ABUSE or 1-800-962-2873.

Purposeful Parenting Month is observed in July. During this designated month, parents are encouraged to engage in purposeful parenting and foster meaningful relationships with their children by focusing on intentional actions, clear communication, and developing a strong, loving parent-child relationship.

Today is , let's turn it into a call for action! Today, let's unite to make a difference for abused and neglected children in our community and empower the voices of the most vulnerable. Join us at Kids House to spread awareness. Together, we can create a safer world for our children. You can get involved today by starting your own social media fundraising campaign benefitting Kids House while supporting our cause to prevent child abuse and help young survivors on their journey to healing. Every share, like, comment, and donation can positively impact the lives of the children we serve.

To make a donation today, visit https://bit.ly/3tEBjuZ

You cannot take care of your kids if you cannot take care of yourself. Life is stressful. Here are just a few coping skills we talk about with caregivers during a Crisis Intervention at Kids House.

What are some of the things you do to cope with stress or upsetting situations?

Here's another FREE activity at the Seminole County Library for the holiday!

CRAFTERNOON: Kids ages 3+ and families are invited to celebrate America's birthday with fun patriotic crafts! All materials are provided during this FREE craft program at the Northwest Branch (Lake Mary). 🇺🇸

Find more free summer programs for kids at https://www.seminolelibrary.org/

Today is . Victims of child abuse and neglect are at significant risk of developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), just as adults in violent and life altering situations. Our dedicated Mental Health team specializes in trauma therapy tailored to the unique needs of abused and neglected children and their families. They work closely with children and their families to learn coping mechanisms to navigate triggers and overwhelming feelings. We provide a safe, compassionate environment where families can start their healing journey.

If you or someone you love are concerned about PTSD, please consider resources to help such as the National Crisis Line: 988, National Center for PTSD, or the National Childhood Traumatic Stress Network.

If you have questions about trauma related to child abuse and neglect, reach out to us at: [email protected]

If you are concerned about an immediate life-threatening emergency, always call 911.

Dads, Fathers, Father figures!!! Come out to this event on Saturday. We will be on hand with some activities to do with your kids and some parenting tips as well!

reduces the risk of Child Abuse and Neglect.

Hello Seminole County Dads, Dads-to-be and father figures... join us for a day of sharing, creating memories and taking part of a variety of activities.
To RSVP, please visit our website at www.healthystartseminole.org

On June 6th, Lake Mary came to spruce up Kids House and bring us some much needed donations on Deloitte's' Impact Day. Sagar and Jyothi organized the entire day for us and we are so very grateful. The team helped pressure wash problem areas, organize the Kids House Clubhouse and performed a general cleanup of the grounds. We very much appreciate 's assistance and partnership! They also brought a bunch of items from our Kids House Clubhouse Wishlist as well as snacks and drinks for clients, not to mention lunch for our staff!!!

We look forward to future partnerships!!

***UPDATE*** THANK YOU to our donors: Healthy Start Coalition of Seminole County, Inc Evelynn H., Sandra T., and one of our current clients. WE HAVE MET OUR GOAL IN LESS THAN A WEEK!!

We are SO grateful to ALL of our donors! They make it possible for us to do the work of preventing child abuse and neglect and have a positive impact on the community. WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!!!!

Since we have a few more weeks until the event, the registry is still open and there are still options to purchase. If we get more donations we will be able to invite more of our families!
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We need your help! As many of you are just getting into the groove of summer vacation, Kids House is gearing up for our event for our clients this year. Kids House is committed to giving kids ALL the tools necessary for success, including the most important ones for school. We are hosting an event for clients in July and are in need of 105 backpacks! Please help us reach our goal to serve at least 25 Kids House families!!

Ways to donate for back-to-school:
1. Donate directly by checking out our Amazon Wishlist: http://bit.ly/3RsOBcI
2. Drop off NEW, UNUSED backpacks at Kids House Monday through Friday between 9 am and 5 pm.
3. Make a monetary donation: https://bit.ly/3jmLKPQ

Contact
[email protected] for information.

📣📣Calling all Seminole County Dads, Dads-to-be and father figures!! Fathers and father figures are extremely important in children's lives and Kids House recognizes this.

Check out this event and RSVP to Healthy Start Coalition of Seminole County, Inc!!

Kids House will be on hand with parenting tips and activities for Dads and their kiddos!

Hello Seminole County Dads, Dads-to-be and father figures... join us for a day of sharing, creating memories and taking part of a variety of activities.
To RSVP, please visit our website at www.healthystartseminole.org

Today is ! Although we can't bring our pups to work at Kids House today, our Certified Facility Dog, Jordon, is the unsung hero, helping children who are victims of abuse and neglect find their voice and offering support. Kids say Jordon makes them feel “safe, calm, happy and loved.” Jordon provides comfort and helps ease anxiety. She can even accompany them to court if they have to testify. Every day feels like with our loyal companion like Jordon as a part of the Kids House team. 🐾

To learn more about Jordon and get a glimpse of her work at Kids House, check out her page at Jordon's Journal.

Tips from Prevent Child Abuse Florida to keep children and families safe!

During the month of June, Prevent Child Abuse Florida will offer daily tips for keeping children and families safe! Ensure that anyone watching your child knows about safe sleep practices, how to cope with crying babies, infant/child CPR, and basic first aid. Leave contact information with caregivers for yourself as well as emergency contacts. Check in often when you are away.