Dr. Mike Higgins Speaks about Hope Children's Home’s Purpose

Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, Hope Children's Home (hopechildrenshome.org) serves a vital role in the community in providing a caring environment that supports the needs of children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned. Dr. Mike Higgins, the executive director of Hope Children's Home, appeared on the Christian Television Network program Bay Focus and delved into his organization’s mission and purpose.

As Dr. Higgins sees it, the children under his organization’s care are not there through any fault of their own. Rather, they come from families faced with alcoholism, drug addiction, and incarceration, as well as situations in which the parents need help. As many as 80 children at any given time are housed and educated, ranging from infants to high school students.

One of the more noteworthy aspects of the organization is its 55-acre campus, which encompasses boys’ and girls’ dormitories. In addition, Dr. Higgins conceptualized Cottages of Hope, which are tailored to the emotional needs of babies and small children, particularly sibling groups. Two of these cottages were built in 2012, and two more were added in 2017, reflecting an increased need for such small-setting family-type environments. 

The Growth of Hope Children’s Home

For more than 50 years, Hope Children’s Home in Tampa, Florida, has provided shelter, care, and a loving Christ-centered environment for youth who have been abandoned, neglected, and abused. A faith-based alternative to foster care, Hope Children’s Home aims to keep siblings together in order to create a sense of normalcy and support.

In an episode of the Christian Television Network’s program Bay Focus that looked back on the organization’s success at the time of its 49th anniversary, executive director Dr. Mike Higgins discussed how the nonprofit has grown over the decades. Originally set up to focus on the needs of older children and teens, the shelter and its Hope Christian School now serve youth of all ages ranging from infants to high school students. Dr. Higgins also mentioned his organization’s emphasis on helping the young people that it works with as they enter adulthood. He and his team do everything in their power to assist graduating high school seniors who choose to attend college.

In a 2017 interview with Bay Focus, Dr. Higgins talked about the organization’s expansion of its housing to include the Cottages of Hope at its Tampa campus. These cottages offer a warm, family-like atmosphere for sibling groups under the care of "house parents" who are available around the clock.

Residents of Hope Children’s Home have occasionally appeared on Bay Focus alongside Dr. Higgins. A pair of siblings living in one of the cottages described their experiences, which included playing, cooking in the kitchen, and going on “family vacations” as a group.

The organization, which is dedicated to reuniting families whenever possible, seeks to provide children with the warmth and encouragement of a genuine family. To learn more or to send a donation to support Hope Children’s Home’s many activities and programs, visit HopeChildrensHome.org.

 

How Environment Impacts Child

A child welfare organization, Hope Children's Home (hopechildrenshome.org) serves children from infancy to 18 years of age. Based in Tampa, Florida, Hope Children's Home has rescued nearly 5,000 kids since its founding in 1968.

Social environments - which encompass social relationships, physical surroundings, and community resources - play an integral role in the development of children. Good physical surroundings are important because they improve the overall health of children. Frequent moving makes developing supportive social relationships difficult, and poor education facilities lead to few job opportunities and prospects

Community resources have a two-fold effect on children. Resources help adults become better parents. Adults can find the support they need to properly care for their kids and gain a stronger understanding of the caregiving their children need. Kids, meanwhile, receive support from the community so they are not solely reliant on their parents.

Finally, a child’s social relationships enforce healthy behavior and improve their sense of belonging. This and other factors that impact a child’s environment help prevent school readiness deficits, language development issues, and behavioral problems.