By Danna Franks
On October 20, a supportive crowd gathered at The Children’s Neighborhood to celebrate the opening of the long-awaited King Whitmire Therapy Center. Children in Crisis had dreamed of this valuable addition to the foster care neighborhood for more than four years. Funding delayed the project until a generous donor heard the need to have a safe, peaceful place for therapy that involves some very hard conversations. Children in Crisis provides homes and keeps siblings together for the abused, neglected or abandoned children in our community. As the crowd toured the new building, the peace and happy atmosphere touched their hearts for the many children who will come here for therapy to heal their emotional wounds.
As you enter the lobby, a wall mural sets the tone in a scene of children playing on the beach of the Emerald Coast. Every room has a soothing effect. Equipped with many games and tools, bean bag chairs or casual seating welcomes you into a safe private area. A larger room is available for group therapy or parenting classes.
Foster parents who live in The Children’s Neighborhood can give a sigh of relief that among the many activities and demanding schedules that they transport the children to and from; now the therapy sessions require only a pleasant walk down the street.
Children in Crisis has provided a home to more than 1,000 children since opening the Susanna Wesley Emergency Shelter and first family foster home, Blessings House in 2008.Since that time, CIC has built four additional family foster homes, an eight-unit apartment building, Opportunity Home (for young adults aging out of foster care), Kids Clubhouse and Kay’s Cupboard (a food and clothing pantry building). The new King Whitmire Therapy Center rounds out the array of wraparound support and services CIC provides to our children and live-in foster parents.
To learn more about Children in Crisis, visit their website at www.childrenincrisisfl.org or call 850-864-4242.
