ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County Commissioners are moving forward with the launch of a Domestic Violence Childcare Pilot Program.

It was discussed in the Jan 24. Orange County Commission Meeting.

The program aims to help survivors get back on their feet while taking away the burden of searching for someone to watch their kids.

It aims to benefit people like Kristen Adams, who found out she was pregnant with her son King when she first started being abused.

“I thought ‘oh no what did I get myself into’ and I am newly married and I am with child and I thought I’ve got to stick it out. You know, maybe this will stop,” said Adams. 

But it only got worse. She shared that eventually her husband’s family also got violent, which is when she decided to leave with her 13-month-old son. 

“You think about school, you think about aftercare, you think about stable housing, which is really hard. And me personally, that is one of the reasons it took me so long to get out,” said Adams. 

Those challenges are exactly what Orange County leaders are hoping to prevent by launching a new Domestic Violence Childcare Pilot Program, helping survivors with children up to 12-years-old.

They consulted local Domestic Violence Shelter like the Harbor House of Central Florida, where the CEO was thrilled about this program.

“I just was floored at the fact that this is super innovative, it is something that is absolutely needed and the idea is that if we are able to keep an entire family safe, then we are going to be able to break the cycle of domestic violence right here in our community,” said Sperzel. 

Sperzel said most survivors that seek help from them have children and this program will help keep more of them from returning to their abusers.

“The biggest part is that the survivor won’t have to rely on the abuser or the abusers family for childcare, they will have a really safe option,” said Sperzel.

While Adams was able to start a new life with her son with help from Harbor House, she thinks having this new program in Orange County will change even more lives for the better.

“You have to be confident that you can get our safely with the love of your community,” said Adams. 

The program will be paid for through Children’s Services Funding. 

We reached out to the county to learn when this pilot program will begin, and how survivors can take part in it. The county tells us those details will be released at a later time.