With a major expansion nearing completion, Highlands County's Children's Advocacy Center will soon truly centralize its staff and most of its agency partners under one roof. ...more

November 19, 2009

Jeff Roth, owner of Chasco Machine and Manufacturing Inc. in New Port Richey, said Hernando County made him a relocation offer he just couldn't refuse. ...more

December 27, 2008

Jeff Roth, owner of Chasco Machine and Manufacturing Inc. in New Port Richey, said Hernando County made him a relocation offer he just couldn't refuse. ...more

December 24, 2008

The United Way of Central Florida, Highlands County Division, kicked off its 2008 campaign Monday and recognized its "pacesetters," those who have already run their campaigns. ...more

September 17, 2008

Jeff Roth credits his faith and family in keeping him grounded in a difficult job where he regularly deals with horrific cases of child abuse and neglect. ...more

September 8, 2008

By 9 a.m. Tuesday, Bill Nichols was already telling the 79 people who took shelter from Tropical Storm Fay on Monday night that it was safe to return home. ...more

August 20, 2008

SEBRING — The Children's Advocacy Center could be doubling in size in the next 18 months. Jeff Roth, director of the center, announced plans for the 8,300-square-foot, $1.2 million expansion at Wednesday's Children Ser-vices Council meeting. The space, which would be added to the rear of the existing building, would allow the Department of Children and Families and Guardian Ad Litem to move their operations in the building. Roth said the centralization of services not only leads better communication between the agencies but also the economy of time due to central record keeping. ...more

May 29, 2008

SEBRING — About 400 children in Highlands County receive protective services from the state or are placed in foster care homes, and more options are needed for placement. A reception Tuesday, May 6 will help community members learn about ways they can help, including adopting a child, opening their home to foster children or being a mentor for a child receiving protective services. ...more

May 3, 2008

AVON PARK — An Avon Park man was free Friday on $50,000 bail, after he was charged with child abuse in the case of a 3-year-old girl. Also a Sebring man was freed on his own recognizance Friday in a third child cruelty case involving a teenage victim. Jeff Roth, director of the Children's Advocacy Center, which provides victim counseling and family referrals, said his agency has definately seen an increase of activity over the last few weeks, but he doesn't know why. "It has been a busy, busy time down here," he said. "Something's in the water, or a bad phase of the moon - I haven't had time to even think what's going on." David Robert Metz, 34, of Avon Park, became a suspect in the case when Avon Park police received a report of child abuse on Nov. 13 that was made to the Department of Children and Families regarding a 3-year-old victim who had a large bruise on her face and nose and a scratch under her chin. ...more

November 17, 2007

SEBRING — Every Thursday, representatives from all aspects of child abuse sit around the conference room of the Children's Advocacy Center to discuss open cases and devise plans of action. It's a far cry from when the Children's Services Council was created in 1990. "We couldn't get any questions answered because everything was confidential and secret," said Ruth Handley, a founding member of the council. Things started to change when the Children's Advocacy Center opened in 1997 and things became increasingly better coordinated. With the Highlands County Sheriff's Office Special Victims Unit moving in Dec. 1, even more services will be centralized in the building that helps about 500 children per year. ...more

November 16, 2007