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Hibiscus Children’s Center Provides Safety and Love to Children

June is recognized as National Safety Month.  Hibiscus Children’s Center honors the vision of our Founder LaVaughn Tilton who believed that all children should grow up in a safe and loving home, free from abuse and neglect. Since opening our doors, Hibiscus has been a safe haven for more than 3,000 abused, abandoned and neglected children at the Hibiscus Village and Tilton Family Children’s Shelter.  Children have received over 425,000 safe nights where they have felt protected, loved and worthwhile. 

Today, over 1,800 children and families annually receive services through Hibiscus’ residential, prevention, intervention and recovery programs.  In addition to ensuring the children’s safety and well-being, critical services include medical and educational along with professional mental health counseling to help children heal from trauma. Child abuse comes in many forms, including physical, mental, emotional, sexual, neglect and/or abandonment. Hibiscus offers specialized therapy to treat victims of sexual abuse or youth that have been identified as targets of human trafficking. Clinicians who are certified in the Sexual Abuse Treatment Program receive specialized annual training and are certified through the Florida Department of Health.  Statistics show about one in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18^th birthday. 

Terra, a former Hibiscus resident, shared “Hibiscus is an Angel in the darkness for many neglected and abused children.  At Hibiscus, I learned many things. I learned how to get along better with kids my own age, I learned to cope with anger and stress, and most importantly, I learned the way I was treated before I went to Hibiscus was not how any child should be treated.  Hibiscus has kind, caring staff and a wonderful mental health team.  They really listened to me.”  Hibiscus is keeping kids like Terra safe every day and providing them with the coping skills they need to overcome the trauma and abuse they have endured.  Our goal is to give children a stronger and brighter future! 

One of the key elements to help address the trauma experienced by abuse victims is through trauma-informed care.  Hibiscus utilizes the Sanctuary Model, which is a trauma-informed organizational change model. The Sanctuary Model organizes both our treatment and the way we run our organization. Sanctuary is an inclusive model because it is a way of guiding leaders, staff, clients, and families to share the same language.  Hibiscus received Sanctuary Model certification in 2020 and all staff have been trained.

 We would love the opportunity to share more about our services and keeping children safe. Your support is always needed to help us continue providing critical services to our children.  Please visit us at HibiscusChildrensCenter.org or contact Michelle King, Chief Development Officer, at (cell) 561-452-5791.