WHY DO WE NEED THE CIC CHILDREN’S NEIGHBORHOOD?
There is a severe shortage of foster homes in our community, and there was no emergency shelter for young children in our area.  This shortage causes children to be placed in over-capacity foster homes, frequently moved from home to home, and much too often, siblings are separated.

WHERE DO THE CHILDREN COME FROM AND HOW DO WE GET THEM?
Our children come from the Florida Department of Children and Families foster program and are placed by Families First Network.  There are different situations that would require a child to be placed in foster care but many children are abused, neglected or abandoned and removed from an unsafe environment on short notice.

WHAT WILL CIC DO THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER AGENCIES?
CIC is a non-profit, 501(c), (3), community charity of caring people providing homes and establishing hope to our children.  The Children’s Neighborhood will provide an emergency shelter for children that are removed on short notice from unsafe or abusive environments.  CIC will keep siblings together, reduce out of county placements, minimize the disruption of multiple foster home placements and provide a stable, nurturing home for children in a local neighborhood environment.

HOW MANY CHILDREN WILL LIVE AT THE CHILDREN'S NEIGHBORHOOD?
Hundreds of at risk children will have a safe, secure, temporary home in the Emergency Shelter. A dedicated 24-hour wake-staff will be assigned to the 16-bed facility and will address the child’s immediate needs until a more permanent placement can be arranged.  Each of our foster homes will have 6-8 children and provide for the child’s long-term needs.  More foster homes will be built in the first phase of construction and each will have two house parents.

WHERE IS THE CHILDREN’S NEIGHBORHOOD LOCATED?
The Children’s Neighborhood is located in Fort Walton Beach.  The site was made possible through a charity land lease of 20 acres by the Northwest Florida State College.  The Children’s Neighborhood will be built in two phases.

WHAT WILL BE BUILT IN PHASE I?
Phase I will have an emergency shelter, more foster homes, a neighborhood center for administration, a recreation center, a playground with a pavilion and a transition home for teens.

WHAT WILL THE NEIGHBORHOOD COST AND HOW WILL IT BE FINANCED?
The first phase of the Children’s Neighborhood will cost approximately $5 million. Typically, no federal or state tax funds are available for construction.  We started our Capital Campaign to raise necessary construction funds in January 2005.  Thanks to wonderful support from private, business and community donations, we have raised the necessary funds to build the first two homes.  We still need support to continue with the first phase of construction and naming opportunities for buildings/rooms are available, including the $1 Million Children’s Neighborhood Naming!

HOW WILL YOU FUND OPERATIONS OF THE CHILDREN’S NEIGHBORHOOD?
Capital Campaign funds are restricted to construction and can not be used to feed, clothe and care for the kids living at the Children’s Neighborhood.  We have initiated several fundraising campaigns to help sustain operations such as:  The Kid’s Club, Change for Children campaign and The Annual Children’s Neighborhood Charity Golf Tournament.  We’ve partnered with other foundations, organizations and business to help keep the Children’s Neighborhood open and operating.  Additionally, the faith community will play a significant role in providing support financially and spiritually.  Once we are open and operating and Families First Network places a child with us, a per diem will be provided from the state.  However, we estimate that the reimbursement will only cover about one-third of the actual cost of feeding, clothing and caring for our foster children.  We need your help!

HOW DO I ADOPT ONE OF CIC'S CHILDREN?
Occasionally, we do serve children who are up for adoption. In these cases, the Department of Children and Families and FamiliesFirst Network coordinate these adoptions. Families in Florida that are seeking to adopt should call 1-800-96-ADOPT. Families that reside outside of Florida should call 1-904-353-0679. For more information, you can also visit the FamiliesFirst Network website at http://www.elakeviewcenter.org/FamiliesFirstNetwork/Adoption.aspx

HOW MANY FOSTER CHILDREN ARE IN OUR AREA?
There are over 1,400 foster children in Circuit 1 (Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton Counties) each year.

WHERE ARE THESE FOSTER CHILDREN PLACED?
There are 330 foster homes in Circuit 1, with a total of 675 beds. There is a severe shortage of foster homes in the area. 26% of foster children are placed in overcapacity homes requiring a waiver. 20% are placed outisde of Okaloosa-Walton Counties, and 58% of Group Home placements are outside Okaloosa-Walton Counties. Before Children in Crisis, Inc., there was no emergency shelter in Circuit 1.

HOW LONG ARE THE CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE?
Once in a foster home, there is no guarentee that the child will stay in the same home during thier time in foster care. Foster children are moved an average of 3-4 times per year, some as many as 10 times per year.The average length of stay in a foster home is 33 months. 18% stay in foster care longer than 5 years.

DO BROTHERS AND SISTERS GET TO STAY TOGETHER IN FOSTER CARE?
45% of sibling groups are seperated during foster care. However, 100% of the siblings that have come to Children in Crisis, Inc. have been kept together.