WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — When children are removed from dangerous or unstable homes, they often arrive at emergency shelters with little more than the clothes they are wearing. Frightened and uncertain about what comes next, they are stepping into what may be one of the most difficult moments of their young lives.
At JAFCO’s emergency shelter, staff members work to make that transition a little less traumatic — and a lot more hopeful.
“Our children are so special,” said Raven Viola of JAFCO. “I think walking into the shelter, you just feel so much love, so much compassion.”
Emergency shelters like JAFCO provide short-term, stable housing for children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned. The goal is to create a safe, nurturing environment while longer-term placement plans are made.
“You’re teleporting into a place where you see both the hardest moments and the best moments in humanity,” said Dr. Justin Kohlhagen of JAFCO. “Our children come in after experiencing the worst that we would never want for any child. And we see very quickly that with the love we’re able to give around the clock — the stability, the structure, the safety — how quickly our resilient children bounce back.”
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The shelter operates 24 hours a day, with social workers, caregivers and volunteers ensuring every child’s physical and emotional needs are met. Staff members use a holistic, trauma-informed approach to help children begin to heal.
“We really make sure all their needs are met and help them feel special,” Viola said. “That can look like drawing a picture with them, playing basketball — they love those connections and moments.”
Beyond immediate care, the organization also relies heavily on community support. Shelters often need clothing, diapers and other basic supplies. Volunteers are also essential — sometimes simply to hold and comfort a baby.
“I think shelters everywhere are in need of community support,” Kohlhagen said. “Whether that be clothing donations, diaper donations, volunteer hours — or if you can’t get out there in person, financial donations to make sure the kids have everything they need.”
For some, volunteering can even become a calling.
“It is an extremely rewarding field, working with the child welfare population,” Viola said. “It’s just a gift that keeps on giving.”
Staff members say they strive to provide the same opportunities they would want for their own children — extracurricular activities, outings and moments of joy amid uncertainty.
“They deserve the world, and we try to give that to them,” Viola said.
“When a community comes together,” Kohlhagen added, “you can make that happen in a real way.”
To learn more about how to support children and teens in foster care, visit ForeverFamily.org. The initiative is in partnership with ChildNet and The Boca Raton.
