Fostering Connections: A Kid's Place Keeps Siblings Together, Nurturing Healing and Hope

In the heart of Lithia, Florida, a remarkable place called A Kid's Place is making a profound difference in the lives of children in foster care. This 6-acre campus, created 15 years ago, is more than just a facility – it's a sanctuary where siblings can stay together, heal, and thrive, despite the challenges they've faced.

Restoring Normalcy and Nurturing Resilience

Preserving the Bond of Siblings

At A Kid's Place, the focus is on keeping brothers and sisters together, a crucial aspect of their well-being. "You know they've been pulled away from everything they've known, at no choice of theirs, and it's just really heartbreaking to see them pulled apart," says Samantha Mellen, the Development Director at A Kid's Place. By providing cozy houses with live-in house parents, the center ensures that these children can maintain the vital connections they have with their siblings, a crucial step in their healing process.

Fostering a Sense of Normalcy

For many children in foster care, the concept of "normal" is a distant memory. "Everything that you think is normal is really not normal for a child in foster care," Mellen explains. At A Kid's Place, the team works tirelessly to restore a sense of normalcy, whether it's celebrating birthdays and holidays or taking the children on outings to museums, pools, and beaches – experiences that many of them have never had the chance to enjoy.

Comprehensive Support and Healing

The services offered at A Kid's Place go beyond just providing a safe haven. The children receive wraparound care, including trauma counseling and educational tutoring, to address their unique needs and help them overcome the challenges they've faced. This holistic approach is designed to nurture their resilience and empower them to heal and thrive.

Aging Out with Support

As children in foster care reach adulthood, they often face a daunting transition. A Kid's Place recognizes this and has created a new house and program specifically designed to support young adults aging out of the system. One participant, who wished to remain anonymous, shared the profound impact this support has had on her life. "Without the kind of support that A Kid's Place provides, I feel like I'd be at a higher risk for things like homelessness, and that's something that teens shouldn't have to face, simply because of their circumstances," she says, expressing her aspirations to become a lawyer.

Community Collaboration and Support

A Kid's Place is a not-for-profit organization, and its success is largely dependent on the generosity and support of the community. One shining example of this is the clothes closet, filled with donated items that the children can choose from to help them feel more like their peers at school. "Our kids want to fit in like the other kids at school; they want the same name brands, the same clothing," Mellen explains. "So, this is really just a huge blessing for our kids."

A Necessary Sanctuary

While it would be ideal if A Kid's Place wasn't necessary, the reality is that every day in Tampa Bay, nine children are removed from their homes and placed in foster care. Mellen's words resonate with a profound sense of purpose: "Children are our future, and they deserve to be a child." It is this unwavering commitment to providing a safe and nurturing environment for these vulnerable young lives that drives the mission of A Kid's Place.