Organization: KIDS HOUSE OF SEMINOLE INC
Mission: OUR MISSION IS TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND TO AID CHILD ABUSE VICTIMS AND FAMILIES BY PROVIDING COORDINATED SERVICES IN A SAFE, CHILD-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT FROM REPORT AND INVESTIGATION THROUGH TREATMENT AND RESOLUTION.
Activities: THE CHILD ADVOCATE PROGRAM IS A SUPPORT PROGRAM SET UP TO PROVIDE CRISIS INTERVENTION AND ASSISTANCE TO CHILD VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. OUR CHILD ADVOCATES WORK WITH ANY FAMILY WITH CHILDREN AGE 0-18 DEALING WITH CURRENT OR PREVIOUS ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE; OR CONCERNED COMMUNITY MEMBERS SEEKING ADVICE OR REGARDING CHILD SAFETY. SERVICES INCLUDE: CRISIS INTERVENTION; 24/7 ON CALL SERVICE IN RESPONSE TO ACUTE AND AFTER HOURS CASES; JOINT RESPONSE TO AREA HOSPITALS TO PROVIDE CRISIS INTERVENTION AND REFERRAL SERVICES TO THE VICTIM AND FAMILY SUPPORT COUNSELING AND THERAPY REFERRAL; TRAUMA ASSESSMENT; EMERGENCY SUPPORTS, INCLUDING FOOD, CASH, RELOCATION ASSISTANCE; ASSISTANCE IN FILING FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME COMPENSATION COURT SUPPORT; HOME VISITS; MEDICAL ADVOCATE FOR MEDICAL NEGLECT CASES. IN ADDITION, 84% OF PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS REPORTED DECREASED SYMPTOMS OF STRESS FOLLOWING PROVISION OF CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES.
THE CHILD PROTECTION TEAM (CPT) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2006 AND IS COMPRISED OF TWO FULL-TIME AND TWO PART-TIME CASE COORDINATORS. THESE HIGHLY-TRAINED PROFESSIONALS SUPPLEMENT THE CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATION OF CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES (CPS), DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND/OR DESIGNATED LAW ENFORCEMENT. CASE COORDINATORS ARE ON-CALL 24/7 TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CPS ON EMERGENCY BASIS AND PROVIDE FORENSIC & SPECIALIZED INTERVIEWS FOR ALL CHILDREN REFERRED WITH ALLEGATIONS PHYSICAL ABUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE OR NEGLECT. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR NOTIFICATION AND COORDINATION OF SERVICES INCLUDING MEDICAL EXAMS, INTERVIEWS AND STAFFINGS WITH OTHER MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM MEMBERS. THEY CONDUCT MULTI-DISCIPLINARY STAFFING'S, PSYCHO-SOCIAL ASSESSMENTS AS REQUESTED AS WELL AS DOCUMENT THEIR FINAL REPORT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROVIDE COURT ROOM TESTIMONY.
. KIDS HOUSE PROVIDES FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING AND THERAPY SERVICES TO CHILDREN WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE TRAUMA OF PHYSICAL AND/OR SEXUAL ABUSE, NEGLECT OR BEEN WITNESS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. YEARS OF RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES THAT CHILDREN WHO EXPERIENCE ABUSE IN THEIR CHILDHOOD BUT WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THERAPY OR COUNSELING, SUFFER LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES THAT IMPACT THEIR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, ACADEMIC, AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT. MOREOVER THEY COMMONLY SUFFER FROM LACK OF TRUST, GUILT, EMBARRASSMENT AND DEPRESSION AS A RESULT OF NOT PROCESSING THE ABUSE. THERAPY ALLOWS CHILD VICTIMS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAL FROM THE ABUSE OR NEGLECT THAT THEY HAVE ENDURED. THROUGH EXTENSIVE COUNSELING, CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO COPE WITH THE TRAUMA THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED AND LEARN APPROPRIATE WAYS TO DISPLAY LOVE AND AFFECTION ON THE WAY TO FULL RECOVERY.
NTEE category: Human Services
Secondary category: Crime & Legal-Related