PURPOSE AND MISSION
What is the purpose of Mount Dora Children’s Home?
Mount Dora Children’s Home is committed to providing a home of healing that is safe and nurturing; and a loving environment of encouragement and support where every child and family can discover their value and develop their giftedness.

ORGANIZATION
Is Mount Dora Children’s Home a licensed non-profit organization?
Yes. Created in 1945, Mount Dora Children’s Home is a licensed 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization.

Who governs your program?
A Board of Trustees governs the affairs of Mount Dora Children’s Home. As volunteers, they receive no compensation for their services. For a list of our trustees, please click here.

Why was Mount Dora Children’s Home established?
Visionary leaders recognized a need to serve hurting, homeless, abused and at-risk children by providing a safe Christian home where children are encouraged, directed and allowed to discover their potential; develop their skills and determine their future

Where are you located?
Located a brief 45-minute drive north of Orlando, our 70-acre campus is located among the whispering pines and shimmering lakes of Central Florida in Mount Dora, Florida. For a map from your house to ours, please click here.

FOSTER CARE PROGRAM
Is Mount Dora Children’s Home a foster care agency?
Yes. While we strive to repair homes in crisis, there are times when the family is shattered beyond repair; foster care provides children with a temporary support environment with a licensed Christian family. If you are interested in becoming a qualified foster care family, please click here for an application.

What is the first step in becoming foster parents?
Contact Mount Dora Children’s Home by telephone, email or letter to request additional information and schedule an appointment to discuss becoming foster parents. After meeting with our Social Services staff, the next step is the completion of an application.

What happens after my application is filed with Mount Dora Children’s Home?
Once your application has been received, reviewed and accepted you will be contacted to schedule the next steps in the process of becoming a licensed foster parent. The Foster Care Home Study process begins. This study must be completed by a licensed foster care agency. The components of the study include: application, physician’s report, financial report, fingerprint clearance, Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement report, local law enforcement report and any other forms required by Mount Dora Children’s Home and the State of Florida. The final step for a prospective family is completing the Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting Training. For a foster parent application, please click here.

How long will this process take?
The entire process can take, on average, between three and six months. For a foster parent application, please click here.

Is there a fee for a Foster Care Home Study?
Yes. All fees are structured to cover the cost of time, paperwork and preparation required by our staff to conduct the Foster Care Home Study. For a foster parent application, please click here.

Can Mount Dora Children’s Home perform the home study?
Yes. Our Social Services staff is trained and qualified to evaluate prospective foster care families and guide eligible couples through the Foster Care Home Study process. For a foster parent application, please click here.

How do I know if I’d be a good foster parent?
Parenting, whether with your biological children or children living with you in a foster care setting, requires a lot of patience, compassion and skill. A good parent is one ready to ease the pain, encourage progress, persevere through setbacks and change negative behavior. If you are ready to provide a safe home, nurturing environment, Christian lifestyle and loving fun, then you are ready to be a foster parent. For a foster parent application, please click here.

How long with a foster child stay with us?
Foster care is intended to be a temporary placement for a child. Reunification of the family is the primary goal. When that is not in the best interest of the child, we work with you to transition the child from foster care to adoptive care, if possible. The average stay for a child in our foster care homes is three years with some children graduating from Mount Dora Bible School while benefiting from this program. This is determined on an individual case need. Several variables are considered before releasing a child from the safety of Mount Dora Children’s Home foster care program. The well-being of each child is our first consideration. For a foster parent application, please click here.

How many children may live with foster parents at one time?
It is the policy of Mount Dora Children’s Home to have no more than four foster children in a foster home at one time. We believe every child should have their own bedroom, or share a room with another child of the same gender. Every effort is made to place brothers and sisters in the same home. For a foster parent application, please click here.

Will we receive financial assistance?
Yes. Based on the age and needs of the child(ren) in your care, you will receive a monthly allowance for their personal needs and family outings. You will also receive a semi-annual clothing allowance for the children. Many of these children are eligible for Medicaid, which pays for medical, dental and mental-health care. It is also possible to qualify for reimbursement for day care expenses. For a foster parent application, please click here.

Will someone from Mount Dora Children’s Home visit our home during a child’s stay?
Yes. Once a month is our requirement for this program. We work with you to also provide additional training, resources and assistance. For a foster parent application, please click here.

Are the children required to attend church?
Yes. Every child attends a local Church of Christ while a part of our foster care program. We also encourage their participation in area youth events and activities. Involvement provides additional support and a sense of normalcy we strive to maintain.

Who are the children needing foster care?
A single child or a child with his/her siblings who can no longer live with their biological parents or guardians due to abuse, neglect or abandonment issues. They may be an infant, a toddler, school-age or a teenager. They may have varying religious and cultural backgrounds. For a foster parent application, please click here.

What are my responsibilities as a foster parent?
Love and accept them. Give them a normal family life and a place to belong. Provide nutritious meals, clean clothing and a safe place to call home. Meet their health and daily care needs. Support their teachers and supply them with a positive school experience. Nurture their abilities and guide their moral choices. Help them give back to their local community and enjoy recreational activities. For a foster parent application, please click here.

What happens if the placement doesn’t work?
The child remains under the supervision of Mount Dora Children’s Home. If problems persist and create a situation that is unsafe or detrimental to your family or the child, we will bring that child back into our Residential Care program on our campus. These changes must be planned carefully to prevent further emotional distress to you and the child. For a foster parent application, please click here.

What happens after high school graduation?
After graduation, many of our children continue their education in colleges and universities across the nation. Most decide to attend a Christian school while others choose community colleges or vocational schools. Every child is encouraged to pursue their academic studies and training.

HOW I CAN HELP
Where do you get your financial support?
Mount Dora Children’s Home, a licensed 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, receives 90 percent of its operating funds through private donations from churches and individuals. The remaining 10 percent is provided through donations from planned giving gifts, special events, corporate matching gifts, SSI payments and civic organizations. If you are interested in making a gift or discovering your gift options, please click here.

How can my local congregation help your work?
Help us find loving Christian families willing to become foster care parents for children who will thrive with the individual nurturing, love and support they deserve. To learn more about our foster care program, click here. To learn more about our adoption program, click here.

Will you arrange for someone from our Development staff to meet with your elders or leaders so they can discuss the many opportunities where churches can be involved with our ministry? Will you coordinate with your church leadership to allow someone from our Development staff to speak before the congregation and share the story of hope and second chances our children enjoy while living at Mount Dora Children’s Home? To learn more about speaking opportunities, please click here.

Will you agree to partner with us by providing our homes with various household goods (i.e. towels, linens, cleaning supplies, pillows, kitchen utensils and appliances, vacuum cleaners, furniture, etc.) and the necessary food supplies needed to feed our children? To learn more about how to coordinate these efforts, please click here.

Will you participate in one of our programs?

Our children have normal growing needs such as clothing, shoes and school supplies. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for one of these items, click here to learn how you can positively change a child’s life by meeting one of their basic needs.

“Adopt” one of our homes by providing a pizza party once a quarter, a celebration party for improved grades in school, birthday gifts for each child living in that home, holiday gifts, replacing kitchen appliances (i.e. microwave ovens, stoves, ranges, refrigerators, washers, dryers, blenders, etc.) as needed. If you want to learn more about helping our children enjoying life and making it better, then click here for more information.

Will your organization consider sponsoring a table at one of our established regional benefit Dinners (i.e. FL – Tampa, Jacksonville; TN – Nashville) or at one of our upcoming Dinners (i.e. FL – Orlando, Pensacola, Gainesville, Naples, Fort Lauderdale; AL – Montgomery)?

Will you schedule someone from our Development staff as a speaker for one of your weekly meetings?

Will you participate in one of our programs?

Can we bring children home for the holidays?
Children, whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have not been granted holiday visitation privileges, may spend the holidays with you when you are approved as a host family and it is in the best interest of the child to leave campus. If you are interested in learning more, please contact our Social Services Department by email, tammy.payne@chbs.org, or by phone, 352-383-9906, for more information.

I would like to make a gift to Mount Dora Children’s Home to help your children. What do I do?
Gifts to Mount Dora Children’s Home are always welcome! You are invited to contact our Development Office by email, thagan@chbs.org, or by calling 352-383-2155. If you are interested in making a financial gift, please click here.

If you are interested in discussing how to create a blessing for our children through your estate, charitable planned gifts or other designated giving, please click here.

If you are interested in making a gift to our Thrift Store operation, please click here.

Charitable gifts are tax deductible, subject to limitations determined by the level of your adjusted gross income. For more information, or to inquire about a particular gift option, email us at tim.deem@chbs.org, or call our Development Office at 352-383-2155.

FUTURE PLANS
Do you have plans to expand your services to serve more children and families?
Yes. Every 44 minutes another child is abused or neglected in the Southeastern United States. Every 8 seconds another child drops out of school in America. Sadly, a high percentage of these innocent victims continue a vicious downward social and behavioral spiral becoming criminals, substance abusers, abusive parents and welfare dependents. Mount Dora Children’s Home, since 1945, has demonstrated successful effectiveness by restoring hope and changing the course of lives for children and youth.

Mount Dora Children’s Home is currently in the initial phase of a major campaign that includes the construction of a new house on our campus. This home will provide a safe refuge for an additional 8-10 children and youth once completed. To learn more about this campaign, please click here.