Children’s Home Society of Florida Celebrates 120 Years of Inspiring Good
Vero Beach, Fla. (November 15, 2022) — Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS) is celebrating 120 years of devoted service to children and families. Founded November 17, 1902, CHS was established as a child welfare society focused on placing children in safe, loving healthy homes.
Before the invention of bubble gum or the Model T. Ford, CHS was uniting Florida residents to come to the aid of vulnerable children. Throughout the decades, the organization leveraged its legacy and influence to secure rights and welfare laws for children nationwide including the development of U.S. compulsory education and child labor laws.
Recognized as a national leader in child well-being and trauma-informed care, CHS continues to lead the way in identifying and addressing key issues facing Florida’s children and families. While remaining true to roots in child welfare, CHS has evolved to deliver renowned mental health care and in-home solutions that stabilize and strengthen families.
Though CHS continues to serve children and families through adoption and foster care on the Treasure Coast, the local focus has also evolved to empower families on the front end. CHS’ Child Protection Team, for example, has a 100% success rate of increasing community awareness to prevent child abuse and neglect – keeping families safely intact and out of the foster care system.
CHS provides youth outreach and juvenile justice prevention, as well as mental health care and in-school solutions such as the innovative community partnership schools™ model that’s transforming outcomes for students at Dodgertown Elementary. Since implementing the model in 2019, Dodgertown Elementary has increased family and student engagement as well as after-school enrichment – key needs identified by parents, teachers and community leaders in an initial assessment.
“Children’s Home Society of Florida’s founding and longevity would not have been possible without community support,” said Andry Sweet, Children’s Home Society of Florida President & CEO. “Under the guidance of Rev. D.W. Comstock and then the inspiring leadership of Marcus C. Fagg, it took community partnerships, friends, volunteers and do-gooders coming together to make new opportunities for children who otherwise would not have had safe, stable homes. Today, we continue to inspire good and create opportunities for children to realize their full potential.”
CHS opened its first location on the Treasure Coast in 1990 to better serve children and families throughout the surrounding area. Today, CHS’ Treasure Coast region serves more than 4,000 children and families throughout Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties.
Looking forward to the next 120 years, the organization offers several opportunities to get involved and become a part of CHS’ storied history. To learn more visit https://chsfl.org/home-page/120-years-of-inspiring-good/.
About Children’s Home Society of Florida
On the front lines since 1902, Children’s Home Society of Florida is the oldest and largest statewide organization devoted to helping children and families. Children’s Home Society of Florida serves more than 60,000 children and family members throughout the state each year. More: www.chsfl.org.
