Kristi House
Theresa Kennedy currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Kristi House since November 2021. Prior to this role, Theresa held the position of Regional Human Trafficking Prevention Coordinator at the Department of Children & Families from January 2018 to November 2021. Theresa's extensive experience at ChildNet, Inc. (April 2003 - October 2017) includes roles such as Assistant Vice President/Program Officer of Adoption, Youth Services & Case Management, Director of Permanency, and Site Director, where notable achievements included building relationships with key stakeholders and overseeing critical aspects of permanency administration and first case management site transitions. Theresa earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Fordham University.
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Kristi House
Operating the nationally accredited, State-designated Child Advocacy Center (CAC) for Miami-Dade County, Kristi House is responsible for coordinating the seven community partners involved in the investigation, prosecution and treatment of child abuse cases. Kristi House assists child-victims and their families in navigating the complex services involved in the healing process. We are nationally recognized for our evidence-based, therapeutic expertise in treating child sexual abuse and other forms of child trauma. All services are provided at no charge to victims and families. In 2007 we established the first program in Miami for sex trafficked youth. Project GOLD (Girls Owning their Lives and Dreams), serves girls overcoming commercial sexual exploitation and operates Florida’s first Drop In Center dedicated to trafficked girls. Kristi House built and opened its dedicated Children’s Advocacy Center building in 1999 in Miami’s “Health District,” in close proximity to the courts, medical and social services to facilitate co-locating the Center’s community partners. Kristi House has opened four satellite offices throughout Miami-Dade County (Miami Gardens, Palmetto Bay, Naranja, Homestead) to serve clients closer to their neighborhoods, as well as a Drop In Center for underage trafficked girls. Kristi House’s mental health unit is recognized nationally for its evidence-based practices for child trauma. Since 2012 Kristi House has operated a major federal SAMHSA grant, the Miami C-START Project, for strengthening the system of care for child trauma, especially in the foster care system. The partnership involves national master trainers and intervention developers from major university-partners providing intensive training, practice and support to Kristi House and other providers.