Former Hibiscus Youth Shares Powerful Story during Child Abuse Prevention Month

When Ashlee first arrived at Hibiscus Village, she didn’t know it yet—but she had found a safe place.

“I was scared. I didn’t know anyone. We were all just trying to survive,” she recalls.  From the very start, staff at Hibiscus Children’s Center made her feel seen and supported.  Staff caringly reassured her, “None of this is your fault. This is a safe place for you now. You can’t change your past, but you can change your future.” Staff helped with medical needs, homework, and even clothing—letting her pick what she needed from a room full of donated items.

At 15 years old, this wasn’t Ashlee’s first time at Hibiscus.  She had been placed at the Hibiscus Shelter around 9 years old.  Her first thought was that it was larger and louder than a foster home.  Ashlee knew firsthand because she had been moved around numerous times, from foster home to foster home after experiencing abuse in her own home.  The trauma she endured included substance abuse and domestic violence. She remembers it clearly, the first nights in foster care were the hardest.

But something began to shift.  Ashlee said, “The staff were phenomenal.”  One night-shift caregiver provided CD players and books which opened the door to Ashlee’s love of reading.  She shared, “Today I absolutely love to read thanks to this staff member”.   

Life at Hibiscus was structured, fun, and full of opportunities. Summer school, arts and crafts, soapbox derby and trips to SeaWorld. Later, Ashlee joined her high school Flag Guard. Staff advocated with her caseworker and the judge to ensure she could participate and practice. “They didn’t see us as foster kids—they saw us as kids who could do great things”.

Life in foster care can feel impossible to navigate. Without parents to guide kids, even ordinary experiences—like going to a football game—require approval from caseworkers.  Ashlee shared, “It’s a maze of uncertainty, and for many kids, it’s excruciatingly hard.” Yet through those challenges, Ashlee found support, guidance, and a place to belong at Hibiscus.

Today, Ashlee is married, a mother, and working in the medical field.

“I have now become someone I dreamed of being, but never thought I could. Hibiscus changed my life. They were there when I needed them most. When you find your place in life, you thrive. Who is supporting you matters most.”

At Hibiscus, children are given support, opportunities, and the belief that they can rise above their past, above the trauma they’ve endured and thrive.  We are so proud of Ashlee and her accomplishments and thank her for sharing her powerful story with us. 

For more information about Hibiscus programs and how you can get involved to help children, please visit us at:  HibiscusChildrensCenter.org.