A Quarter of Hope, Healing, and Growth for the Center for Child Counseling
January - March 2025
The first quarter of 2025 has been a season of meaningful impact and forward momentum at Center for Child Counseling, a reflection of our unwavering dedication to building a foundation for playful, healthful, and hopeful living for children, families, and communities.
In the pages that follow, you’ll discover the stories, outcomes, and innovations that highlight our team’s tireless work, alongside the incredible support of our partners Guided by our strategic focus on HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences), this report offers a powerful glimpse into the daily efforts to prevent and heal childhood adversity, foster resilience, and drive systems-level change in child mental health
Renée Appointed as FAIMH President
In March 2025, our President & CEO, Renée Layman, was appointed as the President of the Florida Association for Infant Mental Health Board of Directors! Renée has been a dedicated advocate for
children’s mental health, leading efforts in traumainformed care, prevention, and early intervention. Her leadership at CFCC has transformed services for children and families. As FAIMH President, she will continue driving change across Florida!
Bringing CFCC to ALL
We are thrilled to share that our very first mobile unit is nearing completion marking a transformative step forward in expanding access to care.
This innovative unit will revolutionize how we deliver critical services like therapy, group support, and mental health screenings bringing them directly into neighborhoods across our community. With this powerful tool, we’re one step closer to ensuring that every child and family has access to HOPE, no matter where they live
This dream is becoming a reality thanks to the extraordinary generosity of a visionary private family whose belief in our mission is helping drive systemic change. We are profoundly grateful for their support and excited to launch this new chapter of mobile outreach very soon!
We’re Building a Community Where Every Child Can Heal, Grow, and Thrive.
LeadtheFight
A Decade of Leading The Fight
In February, our Lead the Fight event featuring Dr. Nadine Burke Harris was a truly unforgettable milestone in our mission to transform child mental health.
Held at the Kravis Center, the event brought together hundreds of passionate advocates from across Florida for a powerful evening of insight, inspiration, and collective action Dr Burke Harris renowned pediatrician, author, and national leader in the movement to address childhood adversity shared her deep expertise and affirmed the importance of our work.
During her visit, Dr Burke Harris witnessed the Center for Child Counseling’s innovative model in action. She remarked,
“I am so happy to be here to have the opportunity to see this model, and I just look forward to being a partner to you all as you are driving forward.”
Her words and presence continue to energize our work and validate the critical importance of building systems that prioritize prevention, healing, and hope.
Circle of Giving
Our Circle of Giving continues to be an essential part of our mission championing progress, innovation, and impact.
In January, members gathered to explore our Data to Action approach and gain an inside look at our dynamic Data Dashboard. This robust system allows us to track client outcomes in real time and make more informed, strategic decisions to better serve children and families.
In March, the Circle reconvened for a deep dive into the intersection of mental health, government structure, and public policy highlighting how CFCC is working within and alongside these systems to drive meaningful change.
We are grateful to this dedicated group of supporters who continuously invest their time and energy in learning, leading, and helping us build a more hopeful future for all.
Data That Drives Hope
Launched in 2022, our Data Dashboard is transforming children’s mental health services in Palm Beach County. This innovative tool captures critical insights across individual, family, and community levels, establishing baselines, informing research, and highlighting trends to guide best practices in trauma-informed care. By combining assessment data with geographic mapping, the Dashboard helps CFCC identify patterns, prioritize needs, and allocate resources where they’re needed most.
This data-driven approach amplifies our impact, ensuring every decision is strategic, responsive, and rooted in realtime community need.
MEET BRAYDEN
Brayden, came to Center for Child Counseling after experiencing significant early trauma. At just one year old, Brayden was removed from his mother’s care due to ongoing domestic violence and instability in the home. His mother, facing her own struggles, was unable to provide the safety and care he needed.
As Brayden grew older, his trauma began to show. At school, he became reserved, often erupting into temper tantrums. He would scream, cry, throw himself on the floor, and even hurl toys across the room. Transitions between activities became a particular challenge, leaving Brayden feeling overwhelmed and lost.
Through weekly play therapy sessions at school, Brayden found a way to express what words could not. In the playroom, surrounded by a dollhouse, animal figurines, games, and books, he slowly began to trust his therapist. His love for animals became a central theme in his play, and with each session, Brayden used the toys to communicate his thoughts and feelings in a safe and supportive environment
As he felt safer, Brayden began to share more of what had been bottled up inside Play therapy gave him the tools to process his trauma in a way that felt natural for him, allowing him to explore his emotions and experiences at his own pace.
Because of the support he found at Center for Child Counseling, Brayden was able to find safety and express his emotions, starting a journey toward healing and HOPE.
Impacting Lives Through Dedicated Programs
Advancing HOPE through our 2025–2028 Strategic Plan
In January, we launched our bold new strategic plan, deepening our commitment to HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences). This direction strengthens our focus on systemic change, ensuring every child has access to the care and support they need to heal, grow, and thrive.
Discover our full Strategic Plan and explore the programs driving impact across our community on our website.
At the heart of our service model, Intake continues to be a vital touchpoint for families seeking help. As of May 2024, our waitlist was held under 200 clients a remarkable achievement made possible by the dedication of our Intake and Front Desk Coordinators, community therapists, and student interns Through brief consultations and timely assessments, we’re ensuring children and caregivers receive the support they need faster than ever before
In communities across Palm Beach County, our Education and Prevention Services (EPS) team has been creating real change through innovative outreach and evidencebased programs. SNAP (Stop Now and Plan) clinical groups are showing measurable success among children and caregivers
Our CampSafe initiative is thriving, with nearly 100 summer camps registered—ensuring thousands of children and staff are trained in creating safe, supportive spaces. EPS has also deepened its work with the Esperanza Community Center, addressing mental health stigma and developing culturally responsive resources to support immigrant families.
The work of our Child and Family Center (CFC) continues to expand and evolve. Co-located therapists are joining forces with EPS to bring SNAP directly into school environments, providing consistent support where children spend their days. Our beloved Art Club hosted at Lighthouse ArtCenter and Resource Depot—has blossomed into a powerful space for creative expression and connection, with plans underway to bring this program to Lake Worth. This summer, the team is preparing to launch an exciting new program at UB Kinsey, serving youth in the Downtown and Northwood communities.
Our Child First program continues to be a gold standard in traumainformed, relationshipbased care. In its most recent Comprehensive Program Performance Assessment, Child First earned a perfect “High Fidelity” score demonstrating the team’s unwavering commitment to nurturing strong caregiver-child bonds and addressing the root causes of trauma. Their impact reaches some of our most vulnerable families, offering not only healing, but hope.
We could not do it without you.
