Hibiscus Children's Center
Encyclopedia
Hibiscus Children's Center (also known as Hibiscus House or HCC) is a non-profit charitable organization located in South and Central Florida
. Its purpose is to provide support to individual families, and to lessen the effects of child abuse
on the local community. Its individual programs differ on what ages the program serves. It was founded in 1985 and opened its first shelter in 1989. Since then, Hibiscus House has started several additional projects.
(or another welfare program), Tilton believed that he was returned too early, and the child was later killed. LaVaughn decided to take action, and created a program known as Child Abuse Prevention (CAP for short). After recruiting, and getting volunteers, and some land donated from her church, she was able to open the "Hibiscus Children's Shelter," which is often referred to as "Hibiscus House," as is the organization as a whole. The founder was motivated by the lack of facilities to help prevent child abuse, and decided to begin what was (at the time) the only licensed emergency-shelter in the Treasure Coast
area.
(or another welfare program) and be taken away from their parents. Hibiscus House has been awarded grants to assist them in showing, and proving that this type of program works. The entire program works by parents volunteering to be a part of this program, as they do not want to have a home where neglect or abuse takes place. The parents may also volunteer for a short-time placement of the child in the shelter, which would result in a shorter waiting period for the child to be allowed back into the home, then a welfare forced removal.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Its purpose is to provide support to individual families, and to lessen the effects of child abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
on the local community. Its individual programs differ on what ages the program serves. It was founded in 1985 and opened its first shelter in 1989. Since then, Hibiscus House has started several additional projects.
Founding and history
Hibiscus Children's Center was founded in 1985 by LaVaughn Tilton. The organization's founder was directly involved with a case that involved a small boy's death, caused by his own father. A 3-year-old boy was removed from his home by child protective servicesChild Protective Services
Child Protective Services is the name of a governmental agency in many states of the United States that responds to reports of child abuse or neglect. Some states use other names, often attempting to reflect more family-centered practices, such as "Department of Children & Family Services"...
(or another welfare program), Tilton believed that he was returned too early, and the child was later killed. LaVaughn decided to take action, and created a program known as Child Abuse Prevention (CAP for short). After recruiting, and getting volunteers, and some land donated from her church, she was able to open the "Hibiscus Children's Shelter," which is often referred to as "Hibiscus House," as is the organization as a whole. The founder was motivated by the lack of facilities to help prevent child abuse, and decided to begin what was (at the time) the only licensed emergency-shelter in the Treasure Coast
Treasure Coast
The Treasure Coast is a region in the U.S. state of Florida, generally considered to include Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties. The area stretches from Hobe Sound in the south to north of Sebastian in the north and includes the cities of Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Vero Beach...
area.
Current programs
Hibiscus Children's Center is currently running several programs to assist children, and to keep itself financially stable.Hibiscus Children's Center
The emergency shelter was the first program opened by the Hibiscus Children's Center foundation in 1989. The shelter is currently (as of June 2007) the only licensed shelter of that kind in the area. The shelter originally provided 12 beds, and has now expanded to 36 beds currently. The shelter serves a 4 county area, and has chefs, child care individuals (to watch newborns, provide normal care for the children), nurses, and professional therapists working/volunteering for it. The children are subject to a program, known as the "24 hour 'awake' supervision". It has a goal to provide a "safe and loving environment" for the children. This program has, with proof, lessened the psychological effects of home removal, abuse, etc. on the children.Hibiscus "HOPE"
Hibiscus HOPE (Healthy Opportunities for Parenting Excellence) is a program that began in 1992 provides families with an in-home reunification service, after a removal (and subsequent return) of their child or children. This, in addition to regular checkups by the state to ensure that neglect/abuse does not happen again) aids the families in the reintegration process.Hibiscus Crisis Nursery
Hibiscus Crisis Nursery began in 1994 and provides emergency support and family counsel for families who are at risk of losing their child due to abuse and neglect, and assist them in solving the problems before the children have to go into the hands of Child Protective ServicesChild Protective Services
Child Protective Services is the name of a governmental agency in many states of the United States that responds to reports of child abuse or neglect. Some states use other names, often attempting to reflect more family-centered practices, such as "Department of Children & Family Services"...
(or another welfare program) and be taken away from their parents. Hibiscus House has been awarded grants to assist them in showing, and proving that this type of program works. The entire program works by parents volunteering to be a part of this program, as they do not want to have a home where neglect or abuse takes place. The parents may also volunteer for a short-time placement of the child in the shelter, which would result in a shorter waiting period for the child to be allowed back into the home, then a welfare forced removal.