To Report Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect, Call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96ABUSE or 1-800-962-2873.

About Kids House

Our Story

Kids House opened our doors with special thanks to our Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) partners who handle child abuse cases in Seminole County on July 31, 1999. These child welfare professionals recognized that the then-current system for handling child abuse cases was ineffective and disjointed. Before the establishment of Kids House, when child victims sought help, they had to engage with several disjointed law enforcement, medical, and social service agencies spread throughout Central Florida. This unified process forced the child to repeat and relive their accounts of abuse over and over again, often increasing their distress and trauma. There was an urgent and immediate need to re-think service delivery to serve children better, improve recovery, and prevent future victimization.

Kids House follows the national model for Children’s Advocacy Centers and brings together all involved agencies in one child-friendly, centralized location. Victims of child abuse and their families come to Kids House and find dedicated professionals that expertly handle all aspects of their case from report and investigation through treatment and recovery. Our highly-trained and passionate staff ensures that victims and their families have every possible resource and support to ensure a thorough recovery.

Our Brief History

In February 1999, Sheriff Don Eslinger proposed to the Seminole County Commission that a house the Sheriff's Office used as an undercover operation to house the Children's Advocacy Center, now known as Kids House of Seminole, Inc. The Seminole County Commissioners agreed, and the house was leased to Kids House for $1 a year for 30 years.

In May 2006, Kids House celebrated its grand opening of the new building. This plan to expand included a secure front lobby and play area, additional office space and conference rooms, two interview rooms with recording capabilities, two child-friendly exam rooms, a playground, and later added a retention pond in the back.

Kids House Then

Kids House Now

Our Partnering Agencies

Our Board of Directors

Ron Davoli, Board Chair
Wharton-Smith, Inc.


Bob Dallari, Vice Chair Seminole County Board of Commissioner


Kent Johnson, Treasurer AdventHealth Orlando


Cynthia Blackwell, Secretary
Cynthia Blackwell Consulting


Steve Ball, Legal
Holland & Knight, LLP


Kim Strong, Former Board Chair
McKinnon Strong, LLC

Marie Bernstein
Community Philanthropist


Denny Bowman
BOS of Orlando


Bob Burke
RHBJ Consulting, LLC


Tim Burns
Construction Group One


David Gierach
CPH, Inc.


Lisa Gregg
Air Unlimited


Jennifer Hodges
Truist

Mathy Hogan
Fairwinds Credit Union


Eva Loosier
Duke Energy


Greg Morrison
Avison Young


Tom Muller
Ocean Blue Logistics


Garth Olson
Wayne Densch Foundation


Scott Sturgill
Durable Safety Products

Our Leadership Team

Juliette Kong

Chief Executive Officer

Jan Carlson

Medical Trauma Program Director

Denise Conus

Mental Health Program Director

Christine Cornell

Child Protection Team Program Director

Morgan Lewis

Development Director

Patrick Van Dyke

Child Advocate Program Director