Founded in 1985, Hibiscus Children's Center is dedicated to preventing child abuse, protecting children, and preserving families in Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Okeechobee counties in Florida. With more than a third of all American children reported for maltreatment to Child Protective Services by their 18th birthday, the need to provide shelter to them is essential to ensuring their safety now and in the future. Abused children show higher rates of school delinquency and failure, drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, early entry into the criminal justice system, and domestic violence. Hibiscus Children’s Center aims to provide shelter and services that help prevent such devastating effects.
Central to Hibiscus Children’s Center’s mission is its emergency shelter and residential programs, which provide a secure and nurturing environment for children. The Hibiscus Tilton Family Shelter in Jensen Beach and Hibiscus Village in Vero Beach have provided over 450,000 nights of safety to abused, abandoned, and neglected children and youth. In addition to emergency shelters, the children receive emotional and psychological support from the organization’s caring professionals, who work tirelessly to ensure each child’s needs are met.
While supporting children who have experienced neglect and abuse is core to its mission, Hibiscus Children’s Center also focuses on providing services that help prevent child abuse and build strong families. Through its mental health services, parents and children receive counseling and therapy to address underlying issues and build healthier relationships. It also offers parenting education classes to empower parents with the skills and knowledge to create safe, nurturing environments for their children.
With the support of a grant from the Maximus Foundation, Hibiscus Children’s Center was able to provide summer camp and educational activities for the youth that it serves. A primary goal of the summer learning programs is to continue learning throughout the summer to improve youth academic performance and mitigate any summer learning loss. Its on-site Camp Hibiscus provides daily engaging activities, including age-appropriate educational experiences, such as one-on-one tutoring and reading assessments, educational seminars, educational and enriching outings, and mathematics instruction. Understanding that the children need to be engaged, the camp provides fun activities, including crafts, sports, and games.
For high school-aged students, Camp Hibiscus staff coordinate multiple college campus tours to allow them to learn more about college and the benefits of pursuing a college education. These trips are facilitated by college personnel and provide an overview of academic courses and life as a college student.
Hibiscus Children's Center plays a vital role in protecting and empowering children and families in Florida, helping them regain a sense of stability and hope for the future. Learn more about the impactful work of this Maximus Foundation grantee.
