The stories of children being placed in foster care can be heartbreaking. Often abused, neglected and abandoned, these kids need safe and stable new homes. Yet, the transition to overcrowded foster care facilities, sometimes outside the children’s home area, separated from siblings, can prove quite traumatic. Fortunately for foster children in Okaloosa, Walton, Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, Children in Crisis, Inc. (CIC) is working to change all that. Children under CIC care are referred from the Florida Department of Children and Families foster program and are placed by the Families First Network.

Since 2008, the Children’s Neighborhood (CN), operated by CIC, has provided emergency and long-term care for foster children. In their emergency shelter, kids’ needs are addressed by a 24-hour staff. A typical stay is 30 to 90 days, after which the children are moved into a CN family foster home that can house up to eight children. CN provides almost 100 foster beds, and is committed to keeping siblings together. Their 16-bed Susanna Wesley House also provides the only emergency shelter in District 1.

Judy Manning, operations director of CIC, states, “When we help heal a child today, we are helping to heal generations to come. One day, when they become a parent, they will be able to love their children and end the cycle of abuse.”

CIC plans to expand beyond their current facilities because there is a severe shortage of foster homes in the community, particularly in Okaloosa and Walton County. For more than 1,400 foster cases each year in District 1, which encompasses most of the western panhandle, there are only 330 community foster homes, providing a total of 675 beds. This shortage means that 26 percent of the children are placed in overcapacity homes and nearly half of all foster children with siblings are separated from them.

A foster child is moved three or four times a year on average, with some moving up to 10 times per year. Children’s lives are stabilized in the unique CN family foster homes because these households can keep up to eight siblings together in each one. Two live-in house parents reside with the children and are responsible for their care. In addition, two foster grandparents live there as well, allowing the full-time house parents every other weekend off. Each family foster home eats meals together and plays together. Medical care, dental care and counseling are also provided. So is one-on-one tutoring, to insure children continue to progress in school. Additionally, CN teen transition homes are geared toward high school students that are aging out of the foster care system, to help teach them necessary life skills.

CIC is a nonprofit charity, so donations are tax deductible, and administrative and fundraising expenses account for only 11 percent of revenue. While CIC receives a daily allowance for children’s expenses from the state, it only covers about one-third of actual costs. Campaigns raise money for other food, clothing and care expenses. Donations of non-perishable food, toiletries, household supplies, clothing, computers and office equipment are also welcome. Donations of time are needed and volunteers fill jobs such as grounds maintenance, office assistance, event coordination and tutoring.

CIC President and CEO Ken Hair comments, “The most important thing our community can do for our children is to help us sustain operations. Although we’ve made wonderful progress thus far, having the funds to help feed, clothe and care for our at-risk children is critical. Equally important is our wonderful board, staff, volunteers and community support.

The CIC’s Change for Children campaign places collection jugs in participating schools in Okaloosa and Walton County. Children, facility and staff can drop their spare change in the jugs in order to support children in the neighborhood. The CIC also hosts large charity events, such as their annual golf tournament and benefit concerts and dances.

The CIC Faith Community Committee (FCC) of volunteers, co-chaired by two elected members of the board of directors, meets once a week. The FCC encourages local congregations to accept children living at the Children’s Neighborhood into their ministries by inviting them to church activities and hosting activities specifically for the children. Congregants are encouraged to visit the CN campus as volunteers.

The FCC is also responsible for coordinating monthly birthday parties for foster children. They even provide a Prayer-a-Day calendar, using direct prayer to address various aspects of foster children’s lives. For example, on day four, prayers are offered for “children struggling to recognize their worth,” and the next day, toward “families during their home visits.” In this way, CIC is helping to answer the prayers of many children in Northwest Florida.

Also, Kid’s Club 400, which also helps feed, clothe and care for children, is seeking 400 people in District 1 willing to commit to an annual pledge of $1,000 or more for three years or longer, but accepts donations of any amount.

Hair notes, “Since opening our first home in 2008, together we’ve given a home to more than 330 children, which represent more than 28,500 days and nights of a home. And we’ve kept all our brother and sister siblings families together.”

Kyla Stevens is a student with the New College of Florida and an intern with Natural Awakenings NW Florida.

Participate in Building the Future 

The CIC capital campaign restricts funds to construction and cannot be used for food, clothing or care, so they maintain separate fundraising campaigns for these purposes. The CN facility in Fort Walton Beach is located on a 20-acre campus, made possible by a 50-year charitable land lease supplied by Northwest Florida State College, for which CIC pays $1 per year. Construction commenced in two phases. Phase 1 began in January 2005 with a capital campaign, and approximately $5 million is needed in order to complete it. In 2008, CIC built the first two homes: the Susanna Wesley House emergency shelter and the Blessings House family foster home. The next year, the 

Charles Rigdon pavilion, the Dugas Family Foundation neighborhood center and the Kids’ Clubhouse recreation center were opened to provide play facilities for the children. In 2010, CIC added two more foster homes, Sue Sue’s House family foster home and Opportunity Home, for teens. 
The newest CIC family foster home, Ya Ya’s, built with larger families in mind and able to house up to 12 children, is set for completion in early 2013. The Travis Tringas House family foster home will be constructed next. Naming opportunities available, starting at $6,000, for community members that wish to be remembered as making a lasting change for foster kids.
Capital campaign donors should visit ChildrenInCrisisFl.org.