A vision to change the course for kids
In the early 1980s, a dedicated course-changer and longtime Exchange Club member named Dick Webber wanted to help overwhelmed parents. So he helped to create a place for these parents in Ft. Pierce where they could find the support they need. Next, he wanted to bring the same support to parents in Palm Beach County. Though he died before he could make this happen, his passion inspired fellow Exchange Club members to bring his vision to life. And, in 1987, the Exchange Club Dick Webber Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse was established (known today as The Children’s Healing Institute). In 1988, the center served a handful of families, and thousands have been helped in the thirty-plus years that followed.
Our programs make it easy for parents to access our care by providing services in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole… by meeting with families in their home… by offering flexible hours to accommodate evening and weekend visits… and by never asking a parent to pay or use their insurance for our services.
Over three decades later, Dick’s passion continues to inspire our work and his belief that with guidance and support, parents can create healthy, safe, and nurturing homes is a belief that serves as a foundation for all of our programs.
