2023 Community Impact Report

Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences

2023 Community Impact Report

HOPE is a strategy.

Without it, we give in, give up, and believe this world is good enough for our kids.

As we reflect on the past year and the achievements we share with you in this impact report, I am filled with gratitude for each and every one of you who has tirelessly dedicated themselves to our mission at the Center for Child Counseling.

In a world where uncertainties loom large, our commitment to safety, connection, and protection has never been more crucial. We know that safety is not just a physical state, but also a sense of emotional security that every child deserves to feel. Through science-backed yet compassionate programs and initiatives, we create environments where children feel seen, heard, and valued — where they can thrive without fear.

Positive connection is the core of our work. We recognize that healing cannot occur in isolation, and that genuine human connections hold the power to uplift and transform lives at every stage and age. By fostering meaningful relationships and positive experiences with those we serve, we not only provide support, but instill traits of belonging and resilience that can see them through life’s many challenges.

In our relentless pursuit of prevention, we affirm that protection is paramount.

By addressing the root causes of mental health struggles early on, we can mitigate crises before they escalate. Through education, advocacy, and intervention, we are breaking the cycle of trauma and empowering young minds to embrace their full potential.

Our impact with families drives community change. As advocates for a trauma-informed community, we recognize the interconnection of each person’s actions and their ripple effect on society as a whole. By promoting understanding, empathy, and compassion, we lay the foundation for a future where children confidently grow and thrive, and everyone owns a role in their safety and success.

YOU are our shining force of hope in action.

Each year we extend this call for your engagement and support: let us never lose sight of the immense privilege and responsibility we are entrusted with – the opportunity to shape the future of our children and our communities.

Thank you for your unwavering dedication, your boundless compassion, and your steadfast commitment to keep HOPE a strategy for change.

With deepest gratitude,

Renée Layman (President and CEO), Board, and Staff

We couldn’t do the work without you, or without the beacon of hope that shines through everything we do — a bright, guiding belief that together, we make a profound difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families. That’s what gives us hope for another day, another child, another family healed.

The Power of HOPE: Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences

The ACEs Antidote: Positive Childhood Experiences

For years now, Center for Child Counseling has been educating our community on the benefits of a publichealth approach to childhood trauma and mental health. It began with our Fighting ACEs events and grew into an international movement and rally cry for systems and community change.

But as awareness grows, so does science, knowledge, and service provision. We gained proof that positive relationships and experiences in the lives of children can mitigate the adverse effects of trauma, abuse, and neglect on their lifetime physical and mental health outcomes.

Like the leaders at Tufts Medical Center and their HOPE framework, Center for Child Counseling has leaned into the positive force we all play in children’s growth and development into healthy, resilient adults.

Center for Child Counseling is Fighting ACEs and the youth mental health crisis with the best weapon possible: trauma-informed positive relationships, support, and experiences for children.

See the dashboard in action

Center for Child Counseling changes the field with data

1.

The new, innovative CFCC Data Dashboard synthesizes critical information about the adversity impacting our children. We can see the immediate family, economic and social issues right here at home.

2.

By tracking data, we are now provided bigger clues: we can follow the individual and collective issues affecting the health of our children, households and neighborhoods.

3.

By Geo-Mapping this information, we can research these clues to view the bigger picture, so we can fight back with positive solutions including highly targeted treatment and tools.

4.

CFCC scientific data is the ultimate catalyst for measuring and improving positive impact, and driving policy and systems change.

Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences is

the

framework

that built

Center for Child Counseling’s ACEs Theory of Change

Our theory of change is designed to address the increasing level of mental health crises seen among our children and respond with an equal or greater amount of positive resources and support. It is a blueprint for building trauma-informed communities, starting right here at home.

EDUCATION, AWARENESS AND ACTION

STEP ONE / KNOW THE SIGNS.

RECOGNIZING the results of Adverse Childhood

Experiences is the first step in fighting ACEs. When a child displays negative behaviors from trauma and abuse, we can offer positive, buffering help and experiences in response.

STEP two / OWN YOUR ROLE.

PREVENTION is PROTECTION against ACEs. Young children count on the adults in their lives to keep them safe. IDENTIFYING a child’s needs and giving them positive support or connecting them to help and treatment is our greatest role in providing hope to avoid long-term damage to mental and physical health.

How to Build a Trauma-Informed Community Step 4: Know the Success

•

ADULTS

•

•

This is what success looks like.

.

SAFETY, ADVOCACY AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

STEP three / SUPPORT THE SOLUTION.

INTEGRATION of highly-trained professionals throughout a child’s community fights ACEs in the places children need them most. Educators, doctors, nurses, faith leaders, police, and the courts change the game when they receive targeted trauma training.

STEP four / SEE THE SUCCESS.

THE ACES BATTLE CAN BE WON WITH HOPE. When children grow up in a trauma-informed community, they realize life-changing benefits: an end to generational cycles of abuse, ample buffering relationships and positive experiences, greater racial and cultural equity, and healthier emotions and behaviors.

Visualizing HOPE through the life of one child.

Building Trauma-Informed Communities

The Strategy of HOPE: Create trauma-aware adults within our homes, schools, and community who stop child abuse in its tracks, are part of the healing process, and recruit others to do their part.

CFCC Programs: Creating Change and Capacity to Cope and Heal

Center for Child Counseling: Building Trauma-Informed Communities

OUR GOAL: Create trauma-aware adults within our homes, schools, and community service centers who recognize and stop childhood trauma and abuse in its tracks, are part of the healing process, and ensure children grow healthy in mind and body

Meet Elio

He is born in a trauma-informed community surrounded by adults trained to understand and respond to children and families when they experience crisis.

Community Hall

Elio grows strong under the care of trauma-informed adults in his life. As a young attorney, he fights beside other leaders to create policies that protect children, giving back to the community that raised him.

Neighborhood Elio acts out at others getting off the school bus. His neighborhood police officer knows Elio is grieving the loss of his sister. The officer is a safe and caring figure in his life who helps buffer Elio’s feelings of stress.

If our theory of change is an engine for driving actionable solutions, our programs are the fuel for success. For the past four years, CFCC has defined innovative programming promoting child and teen mental health with honest, brave subject matter and allaccess delivery to every family that needs it.

A Way of Being With Children:

Raising Resilience and HOPE

Center for Child Counseling’s groundbreaking online curriculum, manual, live workshops, and public campaigns promote everyday practices that support children’s emotional needs while helping them grow more resilient. New 2023 curriculum expanded the program beyond early childhood to elementary school aged students. More online workshops, tip sheets, and videos are scheduled to launch in fall 2024.

HOPE in 2023:

• 11,200 Palm Beach County teachers, daycare staff, doctors, mental health providers, and other professionals received A Way of Being curriculum, workshops, and consultation.

Community Health

Mom suffers post-partum depression but is connected to the support she needs to make Elio feel safe and secure as his growing brain develops.

Home Elio’s sister falls ill, and his parents are forced to work extra jobs to care for her. Elio learns to manage his emotions with online therapy, while Mom and Dad receive parenting support.

School Elio’s teachers understand he is in trauma after his sister dies. They provide him care and time to deal with fear and anger, reinforcing the resiliency skills he is learning through therapy.

• 450 parents and adults have taken our online curriculum since launching in 2020.

Ways to Talk to Children: HOPE in Hard Conversations

EXPLORE MORE! Learn how trauma-informed communities work from a public health perspective, creating opportunities for trauma prevention and intervention across public systems. centerforchildcounseling.org/whitepapersummary?

CFCC’s data dashboard collects hundreds of requests from adults needing help to talk with children about the hardest topics to discuss like self-harm and suicidal thoughts, war and violence, frequent school shootings, sexual abuse, death, grief, divorce, and loss. With a simple click on our emails or website, parents have instant access to our library of free workshops, tip sheets, and videos to guide them through anxious discussions.

Ways to Play: HOPE for Everyday

Play is not just a fun pastime for children; it contributes to their cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development and well-being. To help adults confidently interact with children through play and exploration, CFCC developed an array of ideas and activities for time well-spent together learning and bonding.

Children of trauma fall silent, their voices quiet and still. But look in their eyes and you can see everything.

Real stories about Center for Child Counseling families are the best way to understand our impact. View the Bailey Family story and hear their voices.

➤

Zoey Finds Her Voice Again

Is this my life? Is this what I am?

I asked myself these questions every day.

I’m the Baker Act kid. The bullied kid. The kid who cuts. That’s what I told myself. That’s what people called me.

When I got to Center for Child Counseling, I didn’t want to talk. Doctors sent me here for anxiety, depression and self-harm. I had been sent to the hospital several times from home and school when I couldn’t “snap out of it.” Nothing had helped before — why would it now?

I’m 14 now. I’ve been struggling a long time to understand what happened to me when I was just a little girl. I didn’t want it to define me, but it had silenced and shaped me in so many ways and I couldn’t escape. I think other kids at school didn’t understand me either, so they made me the target for their own issues.

I’ve been in therapy before. But this time it was different. My therapist gave me time to open up and showed me some new ways to look back at my trauma and move forward in a positive way. She helped me change the voice in my head with daily positive words and taught me about coping skills to help me get grounded and relax when I’m scared. And she even brought music and playing with my animals into my coping and healing journey. I’m feeling really hopeful again.

My therapist uses these words to describe me now: full of strength and grace. That’s what people call me.

Advocacy Builds HOPE.

2023: Accelerating Advocacy, Programs and Partnerships

Group Play Therapy Empowers Children’s Voices

Play is the language of children. Given the freedom to act out their experiences in the therapy playroom, children heal and grow resilient. Building on our Child-Centered Group Play Therapy (CCGPT) training initiative, CFCC helped 299 young children in 2023 through this critical intervention where they practice social and coping skills in group settings.

Advocacy in Action: Renée Layman Appointed as Florida Association for Infant Mental Health Vice President

After many years of service, our CEO, Renée E. Layman, MS, LMHC, was appointed as Vice President to the FAIMH Board of Directors. Layman joins Board President Dr. Harleen Hutchinson in leading the nonprofit to build a state where all children in Florida are emotionally healthy and ready to learn, develop, and reach their full potential. FAIMH achieves this by supporting and strengthening the infant and early childhood mental health workforce with its local FAIMH Chapters.

Lead the Fight: Fighting ACEs 2023 Event Series Breaks New Ground

CFCC’s greatest international advocacy event entered its 7th year in 2023. Expanding ACEs insight and expertise through world-renowned leaders, dedicated community donors and partners gathered for this three part event series.

The ‘From ACEs to Safety’ invitationonly breakfast was attended by 120 leaders to help more children feel safe and loved in a challenging world. February’s kick-off event at Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa was co-hosted with The Haley Foundation, emceed by WPTV’s Ashley Glass, and featured speakers Dr. Jon Sperry of Lynn University and Bailey Hughes, foster/ adoptive mother and ACEs advocate.

“Ask not why the addiction, ask why the pain,” was one of many profound statements made by trauma and addiction expert and best-selling author Dr. Gabor Maté during his live broadcast into Lead the Fight Part II. Chaired by Kathy Leone of the Community Alliance of PBC and Julie Fisher Cummings of Lovelight Foundation, and emceed by WPTV’s Ashley Glass, this moving event took place at The Breakers Palm Beach and streamed to attendees worldwide. A movie screening of Maté’s The Wisdom of Trauma was also graciously sponsored by the world-famous hotel in June.

“See people for who they are, not for what they’ve done.” Fritzi Horstman, founder of the Compassion Prison Project, stressed this statement during Lead the Fight Part III. Emceed by Eugenia Millender, Ph.D., RN, and CFCC Board Chair, the virtual event gathered 200 people from all over the world to address ACEs and the prison population and recognize the need to offer meaningful second chances for millions returning to society from incarceration each year.

The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice (Peggy O’Mara). When children experiencing trauma cease to express their feelings, the voice they hear inside tells them their value according to their abusers. That’s why everything we do at Center for Child Counseling, from play therapy to community advocacy, is about giving children with trauma a voice.

Raising HOPE.

Funding and Forwarding Children’s Mental Health

Adding fuel to the fire of the Children’s Mental Health Crisis everywhere is the fact that funding for behavioral health is evaporating like water into thin air. With many funders shifting priorities away from mental health initiatives, Center for Child Counseling remains steadfast in recruiting philanthropic change-makers into our ranks Meet and hear from the donors and leaders taking matters into their own hands, bringing funding and advocacy to our most urgent health priority: our children.

I understand through personal experience the importance of a childhood free of trauma and full of love and compassion. Sometimes those elements are not available and children suffer and grow into adults with challenges that early intervention may have prevented. I believe in the mission and programs developed by CFCC and am privileged to now serve on the board of directors to support and advocate for their lifechanging work.

Melissa Haley

Haley was recently welcomed to our Board of Directors. She is founder of The Haley Foundation and a CFCC donor since 2021. She co-hosted the 2023 Lead the Fight series kickoff event and currently chairs the new Circle of Giving for impact donors.

Supporting the Center for Child Counseling isn’t just about giving; it’s about giving back hope, courage, and a future to children who have faced unthinkable trauma. Their mission isn’t just about healing wounds; it’s about nurturing resilience and restoring dignity. As a donor, I am not just providing resources; I am investing in the promise of every child’s potential to heal and thrive.

Ruth Hartman, Children’s Advocate

Given the current breadth of mental health impairment in our community, especially amongst our youth, the Center for Child Counseling’s “Lead the Fight” series is filling a critical void. That void is a collective lack of awareness of how children manifest trauma and the damage it does if not dealt with. “Lead the Fight” is educating people in all walks of life to take responsibility for their role in meeting children where they are at, so as to do their part to guide them to a place of healing and wholeness, not just for their benefit, but for all of us who share this community with them.

Kathy Leone, Vice Chair, Community Alliance of Palm Beach County

Renée Layman and the staff at Center for Child Counseling are exceptional educators on the Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences for all audiences including parents, community advocates, educators, law enforcement, lawyers and anyone who truly wants to understand the effects of trauma and best approaches to effective delivery of services. Palm Beach County is fortunate to have CFCC in our community.

Tammy K. Fields, Assistant County Administrator

2023: Our Year for Growth in Philanthropy

The Breakers: Elevating CFCC Engagement

A generous partnership with The Breakers Palm Beach opened up exclusive opportunities to engage new donors and supporters in the important work of addressing childhood trauma. Two important Lead the Fight series events were co-hosted and held at the iconic hotel featuring international best-selling author and documentary film maker, Gabor Maté. His live telecast to 75 guests in the room, and hundreds streaming in from around the world, was described as “deeply moving and healing.”

Impact the Palm Beaches Funds

Stay KidSafe© $100,000 Grant

CFCC brought home its second big award with Impact the Palm Beaches to provide 14 Palm Beach County schools with Stay KidSafe© – an age-appropriate curriculum that simplifies the sensitive topic of child sexual abuse and trafficking prevention with a fun, interactive program teaching children protective skills from a place of empowerment. This program will impact more than 7,000 children and 4,000 adults in the county.

Morgridge Family Grant Safeguards Children

Their significant contribution of $39,000 supports the implementation of CFCC’s KidSafe!™ program curriculum with toolkits for schools, caregivers, and child-serving organizations. The branded toolkits include books, posters, visual aids, and awareness materials that empower adults to become active participants in preventing and stopping sexual predators and human traffickers.

Florida Legislators Present $300,000 in State Funding to CFCC

Florida Senator Gayle Harrell (District 31) and Florida Representative Rick Roth (District 94) presented a check for $300,000 in response to the children’s mental health crisis. The visit included a discussion related to how the appropriations will be used to mitigate the crisis. With this funding, mental health and program specialists will provide immediate triage and care for the children and families waiting for services.

Recognition Night: Gratitude Gathering 2023

The event was an opportunity to honor distinguished individuals for their passion and tireless dedication to advancing understanding and action to mitigate the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma. CFCC celebrated with the community its shared commitment of fostering resilience in children. Three local Palm Beach County individuals were recognized: Kathy Leone with the Jane Robinson Child Advocacy Award, Murray Levin with the Child Protector Award, and Judge Kathleen Kroll with The Judge Ron Alvarez Resiliency Award.

New Circle of Giving

As part of Melissa Haley’s vision for CFCC, a community Circle of Giving was launched for impact donors to lead engagement and advance children’s mental health and safety in the critical categories of Giving, Training, Economics and Policy. The Circle’s founding members prioritized an emergency care fund so no child enduring trauma or abuse must wait to get the care they need.

HOPE: Protection is Prevention.

2023 Impact Points and Updates

In 2023, we coined the phrase Protection is Prevention — that keeping children safe and protected is the answer to preventing abuse altogether. That’s why we are relentless about community training and activism. Recent impact shows our priority around prevention is creating lasting, positive change for children.

110,000 and Gaining:

A Generation of Kids and Adults

Empowered to Prevent Abuse

Just 28 states, including Florida, have legislation mandating school instruction on child sexual abuse awareness and prevention. CFCC wants every student across the U.S. to be safe from abuse. Last year we launched beKidSafe.org, an online training platform for educators, camp staff, and other professionals to easily access Stay KidSafe!™, CampSafe®, and other workshops to learn effective strategies that prevent abuse, build safety and communication skills, promote positive relationships and resilience, and identify risk. Stay KidSafe!™ curriculum is available free of charge and is approved by the School District of Palm Beach County and the State of Georgia. The beKidSafe.org platform is constantly expanding educational training as part of CFCC’s leadership in the field. BEKIDSAFE.org

Explosive Growth:

Florida, Georgia and Texas

Choose CampSafe® Training

Center for Child Counseling is training more than 8,000 camp staff each year, and that number is growing significantly. In 2023, the state health services of Florida, Georgia, and Texas approved CFCC’s CampSafe® training which provides camp leadership and staff with the awareness and knowledge needed to prevent child sexual abuse.

A Pioneer in Pediatric Mental Health

Dr. Shannon Fox-Levine, M.D.

Appointed as Medical Director

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics: “Pediatric clinicians are on the front lines of caring for children and adolescents and, thus, have the greatest potential for early identification of and response to childhood trauma.” CFCC’s decade of partnership with Palm Beach Pediatrics now includes three years of direct delivery of prevention, early intervention, and mental health services within the primary care setting, significantly informing our practice and approach. Alongside CFCC’s leadership, Dr. Fox-Levine will expand these methods throughout the community and advocate for change within systems.

“One of my long-term goals has been to bridge the gap in the continuity of care of children with mental health issues between therapists and the county’s pediatricians. With this new role, I am excited to turn this dream into a reality and improve the mental health care for all children in Palm Beach County,” stated Dr. Fox-Levine.

Keeping HOPE Alive.

Child First Staff Honored with Compassion Awards

The National Service Office for Child First recognized CFCC staff members Prosline Chery-Jean and Clarissa DeWitt at September’s National Symposium in Seattle, WA. Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County funds staff members from CFCC and Families First of Palm Beach County in delivering the Child First program–home-based interventions and supports to families with young children who have complex challenges, such as serious emotional issues, development and learning problems, and child abuse and neglect.

CFCC Brings Home ATHENA

Organizational Leadership Award

Center for Child Counseling was honored with the prestigious selection as the ATHENA Organization Leadership Award recipient for 2023. The Center received this recognition at the 32nd Annual ATHENA Awards Luncheon, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches in. September. An ATHENA Organizational Award nominee is a business or organization that creates an organizational culture that encourages women employees to achieve their full leadership potential and gives back to the larger community of women and girls by providing and supporting leadership development opportunities and initiatives.

Your Support in Action: 2023 Financial Activity

Funding Coming In: $6,751,755

Contracts, Grants and Government: $5,228,812

Program Fees: $723,652

Contributions and In-Kind: $751,238

Events and Other Income: $41,287

Investment income: $6,766

Brimming with pride and gratitude, CEO Renée Layman stated in her acceptance speech, “Thank you to the Chamber for awarding us with this prestigious honor. It’s such a privilege to be recognized for something we love to do. I stand here as CEO representing a whole team of smart, compassionate, and courageous women who lift each other up daily.”

4 Star Achievement with Charity Navigator

CFCC’s strong financial health and ongoing accountability and transparency earned a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest and most-utilized independent charity evaluator.

Impact Going Out: $6,422,131

Program Services (82%): $5,279,171

Operating (16%): $1,019,857

Fundraising (2%): $123,103

Change In Net Assets: $329,624

Beginning Net Assets: $3,605,231

Ending Net Assets: $4,448,274

For end of year September 30, 2023. Meet our generous funding partners at centerforchildcounseling.org: About Us/Partners and Awards.

YOU are the HOPE of Our Children.

If you’re ready to partner with us to ensure Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences for Palm Beach County kids and beyond, visit centerforchildcounseling.org to share your financial gift.

2023 Community Impact Report - Digital Version: centerforchildcounseling.org/ourimpact

A Way of Being with Children

weLEARNplay

Ways To Talk To Children

Ways To Play

Find these and more expert training and resource programs at centerforchildcounseling.org

8895 N. Military Trail, Suite 300C Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 (561) 244-9499

centerforchildcounseling.org