Children's Home Society of Florida Foundation

CHS Foundation awards $58,000 to local divisions
The Children's Home Society of Florida Foundation recently awarded more than $58,000 to CHS divisions during the inaugural year of its General Grantmaking Program. Created in 1990 to ensure the continuation of critical programs for children and families now in the future, the Foundation proudly awarded the following grants:

Mid-Florida received more than $8,000 for the Heart Gallery of Mid-Florida to raise awareness for adoption and recruit prospective adoptive parents. Approaching its second year, the Heart Gallery of Mid-Florida is a traveling photo exhibit displaying professional portraits of local children seeking their forever families.

Treasure Coast received $10,000 for its Transitional Living Program Life Coaches to help former foster youth from becoming pregnant, abused and/or homeless. With guidance from their Life Coaches, these young adults will learn how to avoid repeating their family histories of abuse or dependency to become productive adults who contribute to society.

Emerald Coast received $10,000 for Baby Basics, part of the Infant Mental Health Program. The funds will help Emerald Coast expand its current project, educating employees of local childcare centers as to how the environment, sensitivity and responsiveness to a child impact that child’s behavior and overall mental health. The program focuses on toddlers in foster care who are attending center-based childcare.

North Central received $10,000 for a volunteer-coordinated reading program at its Tree House emergency shelters. This program will ensure children at the shelters are regularly exposed to age-appropriate literature and mentored on the benefits of daily reading.

South Coastal received $10,000 for Ready by 5, an enhancement to existing Dependency Case Management Services designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of providing early intervention. Dependency Case Management staff are trained to identify behavioral issues or possible learning challenges of troubled young children. The enhanced service is anticipated to prevent and treat signs of early childhood problems to maximize learning potential.

Southeastern received $10,000 for its Special Needs Childcare and Early Education program. This special center serves children ages 18 months to 5 years who are medically fragile and/or infected or affected by HIV/AIDS and would otherwise not have access to a quality childcare and learning center. The center promotes the healthy development of children, offering opportunities for educational, social and physical activities.

“We’re pleased to provide funding for these wonderful programs,” says Bob Giese, President of the CHS Foundation. “As we continue to grow the Foundation, we’ll keep rewarding innovative programs while we strive to break the tragic cycle of abuse and neglect for increasing numbers of children.”